Friends and supporters,
As I look back on 2025, I am filled with the joy that only true impact can bring. What began as a bold idea–to put teens at the center of reshaping the digital world–has turned into a movement that is not only growing, but accelerating in ways I once only dreamed about back in my dorm room when this was purely an idea on paper.
This fall, #HalfTheStory made history in New York. Together with Governor Kathy Hochul, we launched the New York State Teen Tech Council and hosted our first-ever statewide Training Day in NYC. Over 50 teen leaders from Buffalo to Long Island came together for a screen free pep rally, storytelling in our Listening Lab, and a full day of programming devoted to turning their spark into action. And the best part? Announcing our $300,000 Phone Free Fund, which will distribute grants directly to teens so they can redesign the digital culture of their own schools. To witness their creativity, courage, and clarity of vision was nothing short of life-changing.
I often say that teens are not the problem—they are the solution. And this year proved it. Their ideas are shaping the future of digital wellness, from reimagining school spaces to building joyful, screen-free traditions.
What gives me the most hope is the momentum and potential for scale. From new partnerships with Girl Scouts and YMCA, to groundbreaking research underway with Georgetown’s Thrive Center, we are building the evidence base, the infrastructure, and the blueprint for a national digital wellness movement for teens, by teens.
Future is bright and less blue light,
