JUAN ACOSTA

Juan Acosta is an internationally recognized, award winning LGBTQ+ mental health advocate who serves on national committees, speaks at conferences and festivals, and he is a New York Times bestselling author for a book co-authored with Lady Gaga, Channel Kindness. Juan also appeared in "The Power of Kindness" special alongside Lady Gaga. Juan drafted a historic LGBTQ+ proclamation for his hometown of Woodland, CA. He has collaborated with numerous organizations and brands. Juan currently serves as one of the regional managers for the CalHOPE Warm Line. 
​​
Juan began his advocacy work locally at the age of thirteen and accumulated over 200+ community service hours by the age of fifteen. Since then Juan has done work throughout the entire state of California, nationally, & globally. ​

Awards include:
Governor & First Lady Service Award
The Presidential Service Award.
NAMI Rising Star Award 
 Steinberg Institute Mental Health Champion 2021 


Published Author with Lady Gaga + BTWF authors : 

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

Juan served as an Inaugural Reporter for Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, via their Channel Kindness platform. 
​
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 has had numerous media appearances, speaking engagements and collaborations some include:

Dancing In the Grey

The Power Of Kindness with Lady Gaga

SHOUTOUT LA

Free Your Me Campaign

Human Rights Campaign

Global Harvard X MHA

Blueshield X Commonwealth Club

Mental Illness Happy Hour

Mashable

LA Public Library

DOSOMETHING

NAMI WLA
 
Couched In Color 

New York University

Minding Your Mind

Blueshield

The Riff

Univision​

Commonwealth Club

Channel Kindness Tour

320 Festival

Fierce Reads

IDONTMIND

YOUNGA