The AAKOMA Project

In 2022, The Aakoma Project's commitment to raising consciousness, empowering people, and changing systems looked like raising consciousness through, 5.5 billion people who read articles featuring The Aakoma Project; $10.38 million in advertising value from The 93 articles Aakoma was featured in in 2022; 25% annual increase in followers across all social media channels; The Aakoma Project was featured in four of The top global publications: forbes, women's health, huffpost, and oprah daily.

Changing systems to promote youth wellbeing and provide better care: Aakoma leads in The production of rigorous, culturally-relevant science at The intersection of traditional clinical research and community engaged research. We work to ensure that researchers, research institutions, and associations recognize and prioritize data and studies that focus on The needs of The widest range of youth and young adults possible. In 2022, we matched 170 young people of color with a culturally responsive mental health provider for treatment noting that 131 providers are part of Aakoma's free therapy network. The Aakoma Project launched a groundbreaking study in 2022 to examine The state of mental health among youth and young adults of color. Our study identified unique challenges faced by youth and young adults of color in their experiences with mental illness and accessing mental health support. We further proposed solutions to address these challenges. In may 2022, The mtv mental health youth action forum, a partnership between mtv and The white house, brought together youth leaders and mental health experts to discuss ways to improve mental health outcomes among young people, with a focus on reducing stigma and increasing access to resources and support. The Aakoma Project was proud to be a mentor and member of The core team of organizers supporting mtv and The biden-harris administration in this important initiative. Aakoma's experts participated in multiple press days and virtual events as part of The expert board of partners for sound it out, a program created by The ad council and pivotal ventures. Sound it out is a virtual resource focused on The power of music to support parents and caregivers in starting conversations with their middle school children about emotional wellbeing, promoting mental health, and reducing The stigma around mental illness.

Empowering people with accessible tools for ongoing mental health management including engaging 13 youth from three countries to join team Aakoma (our youth leadership and advisory board) receiving training, leadership and engagement opportunities who also stood tall and initiated mental health conversations with family and friends. Notably 100% of our Aakoma Project free therapy network providers are people of color and/or people with expertise in providing culturally responsive care. Aakoma has coordinated hundreds of hours of free mental healthcare (via our national provider network referral service) to youth and young adults of color ages 12-30 reaching people of color in almost half 52 states and u.s. Territories. Our work also reaches individuals on a personal level via our activities like teaching virtual mindfulness meditation for young people of color, connecting students with mentors from our network, and providing leadership opportunities, internships, and jobs.