Next week, Young Futures will host its inaugural Block Party, a first-of-its-kind gathering bringing together the leaders, organizations and ideas shaping the future of youth wellbeing in a tech-filled world. Taking place May 13–14, 2026, at Arlyn Studios and Distribution Hall in Austin, Texas, the Young Futures Block Party will offer two days of celebration, storytelling and connection designed to strengthen the growing movement for young people navigating life online and off.
At a time when young people are growing up immersed in digital environments that shape how they connect, create, learn and see themselves, the Young Futures Block Party is designed to feel different from a traditional convening. It will bring together YF Innovators, nonprofit leaders, researchers, funders and cultural voices for programming rooted in joy, creativity, community and bold collaboration — all in service of making the digital world an easier place to grow up.
“The Young Futures Block Party is where the field comes alive,” said Katya Hancock, Chief Executive Officer of Young Futures. “Too often, the work of supporting young people happens in silos: research in one place, funding in another, culture somewhere else and youth voice treated like an add-on instead of a starting point. The Block Party exists to change that. We’re creating a space where leaders across research, funding, culture, and youth voice are in the same room to celebrate, challenge one another and build the future young people deserve together.”
The inaugural gathering reflects Young Futures’ belief that building a healthier future for young people requires more than funding individual solutions. It requires strengthening the broader ecosystem around them — the relationships, institutions, ideas and partnerships that help bold work grow. Over the course of the Block Party, attendees will hear from YF Innovators and leaders across the field, connect across sectors and experience the energy and creativity driving this movement forward.
“At Pivotal, we believe meaningful progress happens when bold ideas and strong partnerships come together,” said Kelsey Noonan, Director of Program Strategy at Pivotal. “Young Futures is a field builder, and the Block Party is creating a critical space for innovators, builders and champions of youth wellbeing to connect across disciplines, strengthen one another’s work and accelerate solutions that help young people navigate a rapidly changing world.”
A marquee moment of the Block Party will be the presentation of the first-ever Young Futures Awards powered by Hopelab, which recognize rising leaders and adult champions advancing youth digital wellbeing across disciplines. Building on the legacy of Hopelab’s Young Innovators in Behavioral Health Awards, the Young Futures Awards honor leaders across six categories. Awardees become part of the Young Futures Community, are invited to participate in the Young Futures Academy and unlock opportunities for visibility, partnership and leadership development that help accelerate their work.
“At Hopelab, we know that a future filled with hope and purpose will be shaped by leaders who can bridge disciplines, challenge old assumptions and bring young people’s realities to the center,” said Jaspal Sandhu, President and CEO of Hopelab. “We’re proud to support the Young Futures Awards and celebrate these awardees at the Block Party. Their work reflects the creativity, joy and imagination this moment calls for, and we’re honored to help shine a light on what they are building.”
This year’s awardees reflect where the field is going: cross-disciplinary, youth-informed and grounded in real-world impact. From researchers and technologists to storytellers, organizers and builders, they are helping shape a healthier, more equitable digital future where young people are not an afterthought, but active participants in building what comes next.
Young Futures is grateful to the many partners helping bring this vision to life, including Pinterest, whose support reflects a shared commitment to creating a healthier, more hopeful future for young people growing up in a tech-filled world. Together, these partners are helping shape a Block Party experience that not only acknowledges the realities young people face online, but also highlights the creativity, connection and cross-sector collaboration needed to build something better around them.
“At Pinterest, we believe digital spaces should inspire young people to find who they are, not confine them to who algorithms expect them to be,” said Alise Marshall, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at Pinterest. “We’re proud to support Young Futures and a gathering that brings people together to reimagine what healthier digital experiences can look like.”
As Young Futures continues to grow the ecosystem surrounding youth digital wellbeing, the Block Party marks an important next step: creating a space where celebration and strategy, culture and community and joy and impact can all live side by side. It is not a gala. It is not a panel-heavy conference. It is a block party for the movement.
To learn more about the Young Futures Block Party and the Young Futures Awards, visit youngfutures.org/block-party-2026 and youngfutures.org/initiatives/yf-awards.
About Young Futures
Young Futures (YF) is a nonprofit seeking to make the digital world an easier place to grow up. YF provides a social compass for teens and families navigating the tech-driven world by supporting emerging nonprofits working tirelessly to help young people and their families not just survive but flourish as a team when navigating the uncertainties of the digital wilderness. Its foundational funders include Pivotal, Susan Crown Exchange, The Goodness Web, Enlight Foundation, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and Resonance Philanthropies.
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