Organization Highlight: Born This Way Foundation

The Born This Way Foundation, co-founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Bissett Germanotta, has transformed the conversation around youth mental health and kindness since its inception in 2012. Driven by the mission to empower young people to build a kinder, braver world, the Foundation combines innovative programming, cutting-edge research, and youth-led initiatives to address the mental health needs of diverse communities.

Cynthia delivered a keynote address at the Bloomberg American Health Summit where she discussed the importance of addressing youth mental health with evidence-based solutions. 

At its heart, the Foundation embraces a proactive and preventative approach. Its initiatives, such as the storytelling platform Channel Kindness, the Be There Certificate mental health training, and the Kindness in Community Fund, have reached thousands of young people worldwide, fostering resilience and a culture of care. By grounding their work kindness and mental health, the organization not only provides accessible resources to young people and organizations who work with young people, but also inspires young people to become changemakers in their communities.

The Foundation’s focus on inclusivity and representation is particularly evident in its work with marginalized communities. Through partnerships and grants, it amplifies the voices of young leaders like Emily, a Youth Advisory Board member and founder of Cripple Media, a platform for young disabled individuals. Emily’s story, shaped by her decade-long journey to access mental health care, exemplifies the transformative power of making mental health resources accessible early in life.

Studies from the Foundation, led by Claudia-Santi F. Fernandes EdD, LPC, CHES, have uncovered critical insights into the mental health needs of LGBTQ+ youth, college students, and other underserved groups. Initiatives like the Kindness and Bravery Scale, developed with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, aim to measure and strengthen these qualities in educational and online settings, ensuring that kindness remains at the forefront of their efforts.

Over the next five years, the Born This Way Foundation aims to deepen its impact by expanding youth mental health research, increasing funding for community organizations, and amplifying the voices of young people in policy and programming. Their unwavering belief in the power of youth-led solutions reminds us that empowering young people isn’t just a strategy—it’s a major stepping stone on the path to lasting change.