Meet Our Youth Co-Creators

Aisha Obalanlege is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in youth advocacy, mental health research, and healthcare, Aisha is committed to improving access to mental health resources for adolescents. As a HOSA International Qualifier, she has showcased her dedication to health education and leadership. Through her work with the Emory University Youth Board for Mental Health Research and the GUIDE nonprofit, Aisha has contributed to projects that reduce stigma and increase mental health awareness among adolescents. In the program, Aisha is focused on developing innovative, community-driven solutions to adolescent mental health. She believes adolescents should be at the center of these efforts, ensuring the support they receive is both relevant and empowering. Aisha is driven to break down barriers, knowing that youth involvement leads to lasting, impactful change.

Ananya Ganji is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in community service, academic research, and personal experience with mental health, Ananya is dedicated to making mental health resources more accessible and impactful for young people. Through her work with organizations like The Medical Zone, Bibliometrics Think Neuro, AnithUncommon, and the YLP Research Executive Board, she has worked to deepen the public's understanding of how stress, technology, and neuroscience intersect with teen well-being. In the program, Ananya is focused on creating meaningful mental health initiatives, aiming to empower young people with the tools and knowledge they need to prioritize their mental health. She believes that when young people are given both the language and the platform to speak up, real and lasting change becomes possible.

Emily Hsia is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in youth leadership, community advocacy, and digital well-being initiatives, Emily is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and addressing mental health disparities, particularly among Asian American youth. Through her work with the allcove Youth Advisory Group, she has contributed to youth-driven initiatives that promote accessible, stigma-free mental health support. She has created Sunshine Project, an initiative providing youth in inpatient psychiatric care with wellness kits for comfort and joy. In the program, Emily is focused on developing creative approaches to mental health advocacy to foster empathy and connection. She believes that storytelling is a powerful tool for healing and that meaningful change begins when young people are empowered to share their truths.

Ezri Diaz is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in youth advocacy groups and leadership councils, Ezri is dedicated to youth-driven change. Through their work with the Tulsa Global District and the Tulsa Changemakers organization, they have worked to bring awareness to equity in education and mentorship for youth. In the program, Ezri is focused on working and understanding people from diverse backgrounds, aiming to represent all youth and their needs. They believe young people need to advocate for their well-being in media because of the influence it has on mental health.

Fiffy Abiodun-Findo is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in social justice and advocating for health equity, Fiffy is dedicated to making mental health spaces more inclusive for minorities and disabled individuals. Through her work with nonprofit organizations, Fiffy has coordinated various community service projects such as a food drive with the goal of improving access to healthy living in her local community. In the program, Fiffy is focused on learning more in-depth about how to effectively treat mental health issues and expanding access to resources using technology. She believes that the mental health field should adopt a more intersectional approach so that every individual can access the support that they need.

Gabri is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in digital well-being initiatives and film, Gabri is dedicated to normalizing youth discussion about mental health and joining the effort to make mental health a priority. Through their work in film, they have helped educate adults on the urgency of teen mental health with short film stories. In the program, Gabri is focused on designed solutions powered by the voices of young people to improve youth well-being. They believe that in order to create effective mental health resources, opinions from those who have or are facing mental health challenges are extremely important.

Hannah Daneshpanah is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in peer tutoring and digital leadership, Hannah is dedicated to creating a healthy and safe digital environment for teenagers. Through leadership roles and her work in educational settings, she has worked to empower young people with the tools and awareness needed to navigate the digital world confidently. In the program, Hannah is focused on developing creative solutions for the digital world, aiming to improve youth well-being and resilience. She believes that youth-driven ideas are truly impactful for improving mental health.

Ireland Chosa is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in many different youth mental health organizations including the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in policy analysis and community-based advocacy, Ireland is dedicated to creating safe digital spaces for Indigenous and rural youth. Through research with the Native American Studies Department at the University of New Mexico, she worked to create on-campus ceremonial spaces to improve the mental health of Native students. In the program, Ireland is focused on learning the internal policies and protocols of digital spaces that protect youth, aiming to further develop those protections through policies. She believes that mental health is rooted in community, and that young people must be involved in creating safe digital spaces where connection and belonging can thrive.

Ivy Letter is a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. As someone who loves musical theater, enjoys working with kids, and cares deeply about positive mental health, she's been an active leader in initiatives that use design to strengthen her community and help create a more welcoming environment at her high school. She's especially excited about this project, which brings together two issues that matter deeply to teens: digital literacy and mental health.

Jake Ryan is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in psychology and digital mental health outreach, Jake is dedicated to building the aid youth need. Through work at KAI Partners, he has furthered mental health awareness and designed youth platforms. In this program, Jake is focused on creating opportunities for youth and aiming for growth of access to youth-driven programs. He believes that a resource should be designed by the community it is built to serve.

Josh Rezneck is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in cognitive neuroscience at Brown University and hands-on experience with behavioral and clinical research, Joshua is dedicated to improving mental health outcomes in young people. Through his work at the CARE Lab (part of the COBRE Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation), he has contributed to longitudinal research examining the relationships between sleep, mood, substance use, and depression in young adults. He also has particular interests in UI/UX design, creating digital platforms and content that are both accessible and engaging. In the program, Joshua is focused on developing user-centered solutions and digital tools that are complementary to mental health. He believes that mental health care should be accessible, intuitive, and grounded in scientific principles.

Kitan Akinsola is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in AI regulation and digital well-being initiatives, Kitan is dedicated to making the digital world a safe space for all to thrive. Through work with her organization Digital Harmony, Kitan has worked to start building an app to help Gen Alpha with their budding relationship with technology. In the program, Kitan is focused on coming up with more ways to boost communities' digital well-being. She believes we can make the digital space a place for all.

Louise Olivia is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in Headstream's Youth Co-Creator Club program. Louise's activism has spanned across multiple disciplines including digital wellness, environmentalism and LGBTQ+ visibility. Through digital storytelling and community organizing, Louise has worked to help young people cultivate positive relationships with technology and advocated for legislation to protect youth mental well-being. In the program, Louise hopes to use her experiences to inform youth facing mental health products. Louise believes that uplifting diverse, youth perspectives is necessary to improve youth mental health on a large scale.

Luisa is a senior at Danville High School in Danville, Kentucky and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. She is also a writer and editor for the independent education journalism platform, The New Edu. With a background in youth advocacy, she aims to empower students to use their voices to build up an education system that values and serves them. Outside of school, she is part of her school's academic team, arts academy, and various school clubs.

Michayla Stephens is a passionate and understanding advocate for youth mental health and an excited participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in early childhood care & education, community service, creative design, and event planning, Michayla is dedicated to building a future where all youth can thrive and reach their fullest potential. Through work as a peer mentor and counselor aide in school, and working for and serving youth through numerous organizations, she has worked to create a county environment that listens to, supports, uplifts, and embraces youth as leaders of change. In the program, Michayla is focused on learning how different community leaders can come together to fulfill the unique needs of youth, aiming to combat stigmas and barriers of youth mental health collaboratively and diversely. She believes that youth are not the future, but rather today and should thus be poured into and supported today.

Mumtaz Cooper is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in humanitarian work, policy advocacy, and youth leadership, Mumtaz is dedicated to addressing the intersection of mental health, systemic inequity, and access to care. Through her work founding and leading initiatives such as UNICEF youth chapters and community-based outreach programs, she has worked to create supportive spaces and expand access to mental health resources for underserved youth. In the program, Mumtaz is focused on developing innovative, youth-centered solutions that prioritize equity and accessibility. She believes that mental health care is a fundamental right and that empowering young people to lead conversations and solutions is essential for meaningful, lasting change.

Olivia Howard is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in tutoring Spanish speakers and a passion for language learning as an aspiring polyglot, Olivia is dedicated to amplifying teenage voices in conversations about technology and well-being. Through Half the Story's Teen Tech Council, she has received over $3,000 in funding to implement a detox space at her school, giving students a way to decompress and destress during the day. In the program, Olivia is focused on developing her leadership skills and learning how to speak out for teenagers her age, aiming to ensure young people have a genuine seat at the table. She believes that teens should have a say regarding technology because they are the first generation to grow up with it.

Rifa Alif is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in voting advocacy and mental health advocacy in public schools, Rifa is dedicated to accessibility in civic participation. Through HalftheStory's Teen Tech Council, Rifa has worked with peers across NY State school districts to represent her school district in school phone ban conversations. In the program, Rifa is focused on improving accessibility in digital platforms. She hopes that whether it is a middle schooler helping their parents with paperwork online or a teen shopping for new clothes, their experience online is safe and easy to navigate.

Rj Wills is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in psychology, sociology, and youth-centered public-health advocacy, Rj is dedicated to strengthening systems of care for young people. Through his work with the New Mexico Department of Health's Youth Adult Partnership, Active Minds, and crisis support organizations such as Agora and the Crisis Text Line, he has helped create youth-led conversations on digital well-being, connection, and crisis response. In the program, Rj is focused on expanding his leadership and community engagement skills to build more accessible, trauma informed mental-health supports. He believes that meaningful change begins with small acts of connection and that every young person deserves to feel seen, supported, and valued.

Seli Ayifli is a student at Rutgers University and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. She has contributed to youth mental health innovation through her work with Sonar Mental Health, where she provided input on product design and user experience and helped present this work to researchers and government officials at a National Academies conference in Washington, DC. She also serves as COO of Spark Organisation, supporting initiatives across the U.S. and Ghana that address sexual assault and harassment. In this role, she has helped lead outreach in schools and community spaces focused on creating safer environments, improving access to comprehensive sex education, and encouraging more open conversations at all ages. Selinam brings a strong background in student leadership and governance, which informs her approach to this work. Through the program, she is focused on understanding how digital systems are built and how youth perspectives can shape them, with the belief that systems should continuously evolve to better serve the people at their center.

Shumaylah Sheikh is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in leadership and youth empowerment, Shumaylah is dedicated to contributing her efforts to help reinvent digital spaces that prioritize well-being and build diverse communities. She has helped plan community wellness events across various initiatives, and has organized fundraisers to support her school. In this program, Shumaylah is focused on designing creative solutions for real-world challenges regarding youth mental health, developing leadership skills, and sharing what she learns with the communities she belongs to. She believes that solutions and resources for youth mental health should be inclusive, creative, and guided by the relevant lived experiences of youth to ensure that everyone can benefit.

Tasnim Rahman is a youth leader for mental health awareness and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in youth leadership, community health, and public service, Tasnim is dedicated to closing socioeconomic disparities that affect access to mental health resources and support. Through her work with local nonprofits and youth councils, she has developed initiatives that make complex social issues more accessible and relevant to young people, particularly those from underrepresented communities. In the program, Tasnim is focused on exploring how digital spaces and peer driven approaches can strengthen youth well being and expand access to trusted information. She believes that effective mental health solutions must reflect the lived experiences of young people and address the systemic barriers that impact their well-being.

Taylor Wells is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in theatre, communications, marketing, and mental health advocacy, Taylor is dedicated to creating safe and inclusive spaces for young people on digital media. Through their work advocating for greater representation of people of color in the entertainment industry, as well as their studies at Spelman College, Taylor continues to amplify diverse voices and foster meaningful conversations around identity, creativity, and well-being. In the program, Taylor is focused on leveraging digital platforms and creative storytelling to promote mental health awareness, aiming to empower young people to express themselves authentically and access supportive communities. They believe that while digital tools can expand access to mental health resources, genuine human connection and representation are essential for lasting impact and healing.

Venice Hernandez is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in peer mentorship and expanding digital opportunities, Venice is dedicated to creating a platform where all youth can safely discuss and feel represented. Through their work in the local and global community, Venice has worked to help youth take charge of their mental and physical health by taking advantage of digital resources. In the Program, Venice hopes to deepen her impact and believes that our digital society should be driven to uplift the mental health of all youth.

Vibha Sivakumar is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and a participant in the Headstream Youth Co-Creator Club. With a background in youth leadership, public speaking, and community advocacy through programs such as the Red Cross and other national service initiatives, Vibha is dedicated to improving awareness and access to mental health resources for young people. Through conducting interviews with patients with neuromotor disorders and engaging in advocacy and peer outreach, she has worked to better understand mental health challenges and foster open conversations about well-being and resilience. In the program, Vibha is focused on developing youth-driven solutions and digital tools that support safer, healthier online environments. She believes that youth voices should be at the center of mental health innovation and that stigma-free conversations can empower young people to seek support and thrive.