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JUAN ACOSTA
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Juan Acosta is a first generation Mexican immigrant who grew up in Woodland, California. He is a Mental Health + 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 specifically on the LGBTQ+ , Immigrant, and Latinx 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. Juan, met Vice President Kamala Harris and spoke to her about his work in mental health and advocated for a permanent solution for DACA. Juan was invited back to the White House by President Biden as the President addressed improving access to Mental Health Care. Juan was also invited to the first ever White House creator Mental Health Summit. Juan 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 partners with organizations and brands who are message aligned 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 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.
Awards + Honors include:
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
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:
Politico
Telemundo
Univision
Democratic National Convention historic credentialing of content creators
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
Gen Z Wellness Summit
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
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
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
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"Perhaps one of the country’s most prominent advocates for the mental health needs of Generation Z, he’s seemingly everywhere these days." - LGBTQ Nation
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Get in touch with Juan to request him for speaking engagements, content creation, partnership requests and more.
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