Juan Acosta is a first-generation Mexican immigrant who grew up in Woodland, California. He is a renowned mental health and LGBTQ+ activist, content creator, and public speaker. He began his advocacy work locally at age 13. At 21, Juan drafted a historic LGBTQ+ proclamation for his hometown of Woodland. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Francisco State University. His work is focused on underserved communities. He has served on various national mental health committees, and his speaking engagements have included United Nations Side Events and the first-ever Youth Mental Health Action Forum White House Event, where he spoke alongside FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden, Selena Gomez, and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. In 2024, he was also invited to the first-ever White House Creator Mental Health Summit. Juan co-authored the New York Times bestseller “Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community” with musical artist and actress Lady Gaga and other Born This Way Foundation reporters. He regularly partners with organizations and brands whose messages are aligned with his as a content creator. His work has been featured by DOSOMETHING, MTV, Yahoo, LGBTQ Nation, Out Magazine, and more. In 2023, Acosta was recognized by STAT News in their 2023 STATUS list for his influential work in life sciences and by The Advocate Magazine in their 2023 30 Under 30 List. In 2024, Acosta was recognized as a Young Innovator in Behavioral Health Awardee co-presented by Behavioral Health Tech, Hopelab, Pivotal Ventures, Resonance Philanthropies, and Manatt. In 2025, Acosta was recognized as a Pride honoree by the California Legislative Caucus for his efforts, for helping to advance representation, as well as for being an inspiration to the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.

Awards + Honors include:
2025 Pride Honoree California Legislative Caucus
2024 Young Innovator in Behavioral Health Awardee
The Advocate Magazine 2023, 30 Under 30 List
Crisis Text Line Mental Health Changemaker
2023 STATUS List
NAMI Rising Star Award 
 Steinberg Institute Mental Health Champion 2021 

Published Author with Lady Gaga + BTWF reporters : 

https://www.channelkindness.org/book/​

Juan Acosta drafted a historic LGBTQ+ proclamation for the city of Woodland, CA. That passed unanimously for the first time in the town's history. A similar attempt was made in 1998 and failed to pass through the City Council
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Juan was selected as one of the fifteen members of the Youth Innovation Project Planning Committee for California's Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.

Juan served as one of the six members nationally selected for Mental Health America’s Collegiate Mental Health Innovation Council!

Juan was selected as 1 out of the 30 youth participants to participate in MTV + The White House Youth Mental Health Action Forum

Juan has had numerous media appearances, speaking engagements and collaborations some include:

ABC7 Mental Health Conversation

The Queerest Podcast

Cafe Con Pam Podcast

Behavioral Health Tech Awards

SAMHSA 2024 Children, Youth, and Young Adult Mental Health Symposium

Blue Shield of California Mental Health Awareness Month

White House X MTV Mental Health Action Forum

Telemundo

Univision

CSU Dominguez Hills

One Mind

Out Magazine

Lady Gaga + Born This Way Foundation + Cotton On Global Mental Health Campaign

Hulu + Out Magazine

AD Age

Love, Me Season 3 - Out Magazine + The Advocate

GLAAD

NBC News

Univision 24/7

LGBTQ Nation

Mashable 

SFSU Changemakers

UNICEF 

My Mental Health Journey

Each Mind Hero

CBS13 Pride Special

Vital Strategies Spotlight

Salesforce x iHeart

San Francisco State University News

The Takeaway

Zoom

CBS Interview

FOX

El Universo

TANTV

MHA College Report

The Power Of Kindness with Lady Gaga

Free Your Me Campaign

Human Rights Campaign

Global Harvard X MHA

Blueshield X Commonwealth Club

Mashable

DOSOMETHING

NAMI
 
Couched In Color 

New York University

Minding Your Mind

Blueshield

Commonwealth Club

Channel Kindness Tour

IDONTMIND