Public Voices Fellowship Announces 2026 Youth Well-being Fellows

Year-long program convenes 25 thought leaders to amplify diverse voices on youth mental health and empowerment

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:24am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a therapy journal repeated in a grid pattern, representing the fellowship's focus on elevating underrepresented voices in the youth mental health space.The Public Voices Fellowship aims to amplify diverse perspectives on the urgent issue of youth mental health and well-being.College Park Today

The Public Voices Fellowship on Youth Well-being and Power, a partnership of The OpEd Project and Hopelab, has announced its inaugural cohort of 25 fellows. The fellowship aims to elevate underrepresented experts and ensure their ideas shape the national conversation on youth mental health and well-being.

Why it matters

By providing leadership training, media access, and publishing opportunities to a diverse group of youth advocates, researchers, and innovators, the fellowship seeks to challenge assumptions and bring new perspectives to one of the most pressing issues facing young people today.

The details

The year-long fellowship will feature workshops and coaching sessions led by journalists and editors to help the fellows develop their thought leadership and publish at least two pieces during the program. The cohort includes organization leaders, academic researchers, scientists, and mental health experts working at the intersection of youth well-being and empowerment.

  • The Public Voices Fellowship on Youth Well-being and Power was announced on April 14, 2026.
  • The 2026 fellowship program will run for one year.

The players

Jaspal Sandhu

Hopelab's President and CEO, who believes diverse voices deserve a platform to shape the future for young people.

Katie Orenstein

Founder & CEO of The OpEd Project, which aims to increase the range of voices and quality of ideas heard in the world.

The 2026 Public Voices Fellows

A cohort of 25 thought leaders working at the intersection of youth well-being and power, including organization leaders, academic researchers, scientists, and mental health advocates.

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What they’re saying

“I've always believed our world is stronger when diverse voices have a real platform. Through The Public Voices Fellowship, we lift up experts whose wisdom and lived experiences can challenge our assumptions about youth mental health and well-being.”

— Jaspal Sandhu, Hopelab's President and CEO

“Through this fellowship, we are working with some of the best minds in the world — with experts across a wide range of fields and backgrounds who have knowledge that can help solve big problems, and drive great advances — not just for themselves, but for all of us.”

— Katie Orenstein, Founder & CEO of The OpEd Project

What’s next

The 2026 Public Voices Fellows will participate in the year-long program, which includes workshops, coaching, and a commitment to publish at least two pieces of thought leadership.

The takeaway

By elevating diverse voices and perspectives on youth mental health and empowerment, the Public Voices Fellowship aims to challenge assumptions, drive progress, and create a more just, sustainable, and intelligent future for young people.