Juan Acosta is a first generation Mexican immigrant, who grew up in Woodland California. 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. Juan has done work throughout the state of California, across the country, and around the world. His work is focused on underserved communities specifically on the LGBTQ+ , Immigrant and Latinx community. He has served on various national committees and speaks at conferences and festivals. Some of 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. Juan also co-authored the New York Times Bestselling “Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community” with musical artist and actress Lady Gaga + other Born This Way Foundation Reporters. He regularly collaborates with numerous organizations and brands. His work has been featured by  Mashable, Oprah Magazine, DOSOMETHING, MTV, Yahoo, LGBTQ Nation and more. Acosta was recognized on STAT News 2023 STATUS list for his influential work in life sciences. He currently serves as a Board Member for Steinberg Institute.

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Awards + Honors include:
Crisis Text Line Mental Health Changemaker
2023 STATUS List
CalHOPE Ambassador Appreciation Award
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:

GLAAD

NBC News

White House X MTV Youth Mental Health Action Forum

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

Yahoo 

CBS Interview

FOX

El Universo

TANTV

MHA College Report

Dancing In the Grey

The Power Of Kindness with Lady Gaga

Voyage LA Rising Star

Free Your Me Campaign

Human Rights Campaign

Global Harvard X MHA

Blueshield X Commonwealth Club

Mental Illness Happy Hour

Mashable

DOSOMETHING

NAMI WLA
 
Couched In Color 

New York University

Minding Your Mind

Blueshield

Univision​

Commonwealth Club

Channel Kindness Tour

320 Festival

Fierce Reads

IDONTMIND