Next Generation Collective launches to support young entertainers' mental health

The Next Generation Collective, a new initiative designed to support young people in the entertainment, music, and creator economies, officially launched during the inaugural Hollywood & Mind summit in New York City. Spearheaded by Lilah Kojoori, a veteran in children’s entertainment communications, the organization aims to help young individuals navigate the mental health challenges and pressures associated with growing up in the public eye.

In collaboration with the Kids Mental Health Foundation, backed by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Collective will provide access to clinical mental health expertise and industry-specific guidance. The program is intended to assist young performers, their families, and the professionals who support them, including studios, agencies, and managers, by offering resources on boundaries and the realities of working in the spotlight.

A founding advisory board has been established featuring entertainers with firsthand experience in the industry, including Isabela Merced, Kel Mitchell, Logan Henderson, Soleil Moon Frye, and Breanna Yde, alongside mental health advocate Angel Carter Conrad and Carmela Wallace.