youth empowerment – Youth Infusion

24 Youth Tech Organizations to Watch: How Young People Are Reshaping Responsible Technology

From Gen Alpha co-creators to youth-led movements for digital justice, these organizations are proving that seek to build healthier technology requires trusting young people as architects—not just users—of the digital future.

A growing number of organizations are recognizing the distinct advantages of collaborating with much younger minds—and many are taking that commitment a step further by intentionally engaging members of Gen Alpha. One reason is simple: this generation, born roughly between 2010 and 2024, has never experienced a world without constant digital connectivity, giving them perspectives that even Gen Z does not fully share.

Several years ago, when I began researching nonprofits that meaningfully embed young people in their work, Headstream immediately stood out. Unlike many organizations that recruit participants primarily between the ages of 16-24, Headstream intentionally invited those as young as 13. In doing so, it was ahead of the curve in recognizing the value of Gen Alpha’s lived digital experience.

Headstream also created a distinctive leadership model in which these young people serve as mentors to app developers and technology entrepreneurs. These teen collaborators provide ongoing, candid feedback as potential users, helping shape products in real time. As one of these young coaches, Nathan Asher, reflected:

“…it was an incredible way to get involved in making a change with social media platforms and gaming companies. I’ve never before had an experience where people in positions of power within these companies were truly listening to me and wanting to make a change.”

Today, Headstream is partnering with Cyber Collective to deepen this work. Together, they brought their young co-creators together to identify what it takes to build a genuinely co-creative process.

Their findings challenge assumptions about intergenerational collaboration. We often think about power dynamics between a 40-year-old adult who may unconsciously adopt a parental or protective stance toward young people. But age-based hierarchy can emerge even among younger generations: a 23-year-old can carry adultist assumptions toward a 13-year-old just as easily.

The reflections from these young participants offer valuable lessons for any organization seeking authentic cross-generational collaboration. As the group concluded:

“Their insights pushed us to think beyond a single workshop and toward something more adaptable, emotionally resonant, and lasting. Most importantly, they reminded us that partnerships—with youth, educators, and trusted community organizations—are the only way to scale safety, trust, and care.”

It is no surprise that Cyber Collective is one of the recipients of a 2026 grant from the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund. This $1.9 million philanthropic initiative is supporting youth- and intergenerationally-led organizations working to build a healthier and safer digital ecosystem.

The Fund’s 23 other grantees—many led by people under age 30—have much to learn from Headstream’s sustained partnership with very young thought partners. Their model demonstrates that meaningful youth engagement is not about token consultation. It is about relying on young people, including the youngest digital natives, as essential co-architects in this international movement.

ORGS TO WATCH

Here are 24 organizations that RTPF supports with the belief “that young people can be a powerful force in the fight for a more inclusive and equitable technology ecosystem.”

#HalfTheStory is moving the world from screen-fear to screen-free fun by putting teens at the table of tech decision-making.

Agents of Influence helps young people take back control of their attention, their decisions, and the technologies shaping both.

AI Consensus builds environments that let young people come together and decide what AI becomes.

Center for Intimacy Justice works to hold technology platforms accountable for ensuring that young people can access accurate health education online without stigma, censorship, or algorithmic bias.

Civics Unplugged shapes young leaders to redefine civics as a verb and become active world-builders in their communities.

Cyber Collective gives people the tools, language, and support to stay safe online.

Decifer Studio allows people to pull back the curtain on emerging technologies, look behind the scenes, and imagine themselves at the steering wheel.

Design It For Us believes that young people should be at the center of the solutions for creating safer, more productive online spaces.

Despierta helps young people and families build healthier relationships with technology, themselves, and each other by blending mental health education, youth leadership, and culturally responsive learning.

Future Incubator serves as an operational partner for youth-led initiatives, providing administrative support in finance, HR, and legal compliance so young leaders can focus on fundraising, hiring, and scaling their work.

Gen-Z for Change brings together attorneys, creators, strategists, and organizers to translate digital influence into meaningful civic engagement.

Generation Patient is building a future where young adults with chronic conditions lead the way in reshaping care through peer support and systems reform grounded in lived experience.

Innovation for Everyone is a youth-led movement mobilizing for AI ethics literacy, reaching 70,000 students across 35 countries to preserve critical thinking and youth agency in the age of AI.

Kentucky Student Voice Team is a laboratory for democratic participation where young people investigate the education systems shaping their lives and help redesign them.

Kinston Teens, Inc. empowers young people through service, leadership, and civic engagement.

NClude Inc. works to unlock employment and economic independence for people with disabilities by transforming inaccessible digital systems into inclusive opportunities through accessible, responsible AI.

Next Gen Men creates positive shifts in how boys and men think of themselves, relate to others, and are viewed within their communities.

NoSo Connection Collective empowers young people to reclaim control over their time, attention, and well-being by building healthier relationships with technology.

Our Subscription to Addiction inspires young people to reclaim their agency with social media, equipping them with the confidence, tools, and resources to build healthier relationships with their phones and contribute to solutions.

Reboot is a publication by and for technologists.

Rooted Futures Lab is a research and action collective dedicated to centering environmental justice principles in technology.

trubel&co (pronounced like “trouble”) is a tech-justice nonprofit mobilizing youth and communities to leverage local data to tackle the challenges that matter most.

Young People’s Alliance is empowering young people to ensure that AI’s encroachments on our humanity create the conditions for policies that put our humanity first.

Youth for Privacy – Privacy Runway is a youth-led, youth-centered group advocating for privacy through education, outreach, research, and advocacy.

SIX CONCRETE RECOMMENDATIONS

Many elected officials in the U.S. who have the power to regulate digital platforms are clueless. Apart from young staff and perhaps grandchildren, they are unfamiliar about gaming, scrolling on TikTok, or using AI. Our lawmakers should rely on experts–not lobbyists.

New research gathers data from 10–17-year-olds in numerous countries, then young people analyze the findings using the #Youth Foresight principle along with its 3 Horizons methodology. Lawmakers here and abroad should give serious consideration to the six recommendations outlined in this report: UNICEF Children’s Voices in Action report

Another especially important insight is Shai Naides ‘clear conclusion:

“The intergenerational trust gap doesn’t close through consultation alone. It closes when young people’s priorities and concerns are treated as relevant to understanding long-term challenges, when they are embedded within the analysis and decision-making rather than running alongside it in a parallel track.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Headstream https://www.headstreaminnovation.com

Sample Headstream Toolkit:
https://youthinfusion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/headstream-equity-centered-youth-co-creation-framework.pdf

Hopelab https://hopelab.org

Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund
https://www.rtyouthpower.org/

Photo Credit: trubel@co

“Check out”what’s happening in Libraries

“We are hearing the important word “co-design” more as libraries are designing programs “with” teens, not “for” them. Instead of planning first and bringing the teens in later, teens are given a seat at the table from the beginning. Libraries are going into communities and building relationships with trusted messengers, and if the goal is to develop programming for teens, then teens need to be among those trusted messengers. This movement reflects a larger trend of a ‘with them’ practice.”

This paradigm shift is described by Shari Henry, previously Director of Democracy and Community Impact with the Urban Libraries Council and who now works with the largest library system in Virginia. In addition to maximizing the impact of youth services, co-piloting with teens plots future directions for libraries and diversifying the career pipeline.

Instead of libraries becoming obsolete institutions, some innovative practices of inclusion are gaining traction.

Another visionary in the library universe is Liz McChesney, National Summer Learning Association Senior Fellow. She reviewed Why Aren’t We Doing This! Collaborating with Minors in Major Ways which I co authored with Denise Webb, now 20. McChesney says

“This practical and easy to use guide gives actionable examples of how to include youth and co-design for authentic engagement. This is a must read for all those who want more inclusive and equitable programs and services in their libraries that are designed with youth instead of for them.”

Prof. Anthony Bernier at California’s San José State University School of Information continues to push and prod libraries to move beyond traditional youth development framework. I am proud to have contributed a chapter in his book, Transforming Young Adult Services. I’m even prouder to share his review of our book..

In an inspiringly accessible narrative voice, Why Aren’t We Doing This – teaches the topics and addresses the concerns skeptics simply accept to justify why incorporating young people is just too hard.

Webb and Lesko illustrate how it’s not.

Their well laid-out Table of Contents usher readers through six logical arguments and strategies for disrupting legacies that exclude youth through inducting and infusing youth into the operational and strategic fabric of our organizations. Along the way Why Aren’t We Doing This shares real-world insights from their interviews as well as offers practical resources, such as the “Ladder of Real Vs. Token Youth Participation,” to help guide organizations away from superficial manipulations of young people through to genuine influence and power enhancing collaborations.

That said, as someone who teaches youth service professionals, I particularly appreciate the detailed content about appropriate on-boarding, coaching, and co-piloting techniques leading to authentic youth influence building.

Libraries = Community Hub!

Join Our National Hub!!

Join with other youth practitioners from many different sector in our online exchange about individual and institutional change to co-create with this demographic that is essential to innovation in every community. “Check out” Youth Infusion HUB @ LinkedIN.

Photo: El Gabilan Library – Salinas, CA

Youths Are Not Adults’ Sidekicks

Red flags for people of all ages on how to avoid dozens of unconscious as well as intentional behaviors that can sabotage intergenerational collaboration.

By Denise Webb, coauthor of Why Aren’t We Doing This! Collaborating with Minors in Major Ways

When I first became active in my community, I viewed myself as an extension of the adult assigned to me. Everything that I said, did, and acted upon was not my own power or agency, but it was the complete leadership, knowledge, and training that the adult had given to me. As I grew older and joined more school clubs, youth-led organizations, and grassroots efforts, I realized that my knowledge, drive, and my ability to stand up for what I knew was just – was not anchored to an adult. However, so many other youths do not make this discovery until it is too late and they become the adult perpetuating those societal beliefs of power and superiority over younger people.

This sentiment of youth power being tied to an adult is built into our systems, in our schools, and even in “youth-friendly” orgs. For over 5 years, I have had my fair share of being bombarded with blaring red flags from adults that I did not notice until it was too late. I created a handout revealing the red, yellow, and green flags that young people should look out for when searching for work, organizations to join, daily interactions, and anything in between.

Being Pursued

My most brain-stained memory of these red flags was unfortunately recent. A “youth-led” organization was created early 2023 to promote youth power across Metro Atlanta. I was told by one of their adult recruiters to apply but ignored the offer because I already had a lot on my plate. They badgered me with multiple reminders to join. I didn’t realize it at that moment, but they disregarded my schedule and other obligations in my life, suggesting repeatedly that this “youth-led” organization was perfect for me. After I went through the application and interview process, I was accepted. Around this time, I was preparing to study abroad in Costa Rica to learn about environmental sustainability. I let that be known during the interview and was promised my role would be online research.

Are You Kid-ding Me?

The next red flag I immediately noticed was the one of the adult’s language. This organization decided to meet on Zoom once a month while also doing events in person. Even though the age range was 14-22, we were all called “kids”. When introduced to prominent community members, they would say “These are my kids, just out here trying to show them how to do better for their community, ya know?” This language automatically showed their personal hierarchy which adults and young people stand on.

Dismay & Pay

After those awkward interactions with them, I set off for Costa Rica. They let me know my pay and that I would receive it towards the end of each month. All summer long I researched, created flyers, and gave them ideas to enrich the community without seeing any compensation. I emailed them and received no response. Upon returning to the U.S. in August, they told me that I was not technically an “employee” because of some missing paperwork. I was confused because they still assigned me work, and approved what I gave to them. I was missing $1,200 of pay. During this time, I realized all of the blaring red flags from before. I had wished that I heeded the warning signs and not given them the benefit of the doubt. I gathered all of the paperwork they had given me, stating my acceptance, and emails of them thanking me for my work as well as documenting zero compensation. When I presented this to all of the adults, they stopped emailing me and decided that it would be best to continue on the phone and not where a paper trail could be found. At the end of this battle, they only paid me $800 but still used my work as a way to show how well they were teaching their “kids.” This organization was one of the many that helped build up the “red flags” that all young people need to look out for.

Youths vs. Youths

Outside of my own financial and personal struggles with this organization, a bigger one started to form as the months continued. Favoritism. Despite all of the young people starting at the same time and being given the same work, a “tiered” system of youths started to creep out. During our meetings, if you had similar interests to the adults, were more inclined to agree with them, and/or were someone they viewed as valuable, they would often say “Wow you are my favorite you know that?” Yes, in front of the other youths. This created unhealthy competition and strains within the youth bubble. There was no adult ally in these spaces either. Just adults who were more concerned with pushing the agenda that youths are being “heard” around them.

Turning Red Flags Green

In our new book, Why Aren’t We Doing This! Collaborating with Minors in Major Ways, Wendy and I caution adults on how to avoid dozens of unconscious as well as intentional behaviors that can sabotage intergenerational teamwork. One of the many self-aware professionals featured in our book provides this advice.

“You have to get over your stereotypes. I’m big on language. I think the word “kids” infantilizes, especially when we talk about power. I’ve never liked the word “empower.” Who are we giving power to? Everyone has power. Young people have power. Let’s recognize the power and let’s work together.”
Robyn Bussey, Just Health Director with Partnership for Southern Equity

Harmful environments like the organization in question, will be one of the very first “youth-led” spaces where young people will be told they have power. However, saying that and contributing to adultism, decoration, tokenism, and favoritism will push hundreds of youthsout of the youth power movement. This may also cause many to question whether or not young people truly have power.

Achieving respectful and equitable working relationships demand a seismic reorientation. Regular 1:1s that provide opportunities for level-setting and candid conversations are among the critical strategies we present in our book. Frequent interactions not only increase impact but I know firsthand, can be full of joy. One green flag for adults to judge genuine intergenerational synergy is if young people feel comfortable laughing and joking with older colleagues.

Sticking Together

The reason that I have stayed with this organization throughout the hardships is because I am not afraid to push the envelope. Since I am 20 now, I believe that it is time for me to “train” myself to become an adult ally. By being able to stand up and demand structural and systematic changes to this org will benefit many youths to come despite my current discomforts. By promoting a space where youth voices are truly heard, we will be able to turn even the most blaring red flags into something with an emerald green glint.

Tag: youth empowerment