New Collective to Support Young Stars Growing Up Famous
A new group promises help for children growing up in the spotlight.
The Next Generation Collective has teamed with The Kids Mental Health Foundation on an initiative for young people in entertainment, music and the creator economy, meaning people who make a living posting videos and other content online. The launch took place on Tuesday, 6 October at Hollywood & Mind's inaugural summit at iHeartMedia in New York City, Deadline reported.
The Collective was founded by Lilah Kojoori, a children's entertainment communications executive. She has spent more than 20 years working with young performers and their families.
Its Founding Advisory Board brings together actors, musicians and advocates. The members include Angel Carter Conrad, Logan Henderson, Isabela Merced, Kel Mitchell, Soleil Moon Frye, Hudson Yang, Breanna Yde, Carmela Wallace and Artists for Artists.
Wallace is the mother of late rapper Juice WRLD and founder of Live Free 999. The board will help shape the Collective's early work alongside its partners.
The Kids Mental Health Foundation will provide clinical guidance for the project. That means aligning the Collective's work with evidence-informed mental health educational resources.
The foundation's Executive Clinical Director is Dr Ariana Hoet, who is also a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Her team works on prevention-focused materials for families.
Work starts now and builds next year. Beginning in 2027, the Collective will work with its board and partners to develop expert-informed resources, education and support for young people, families and industry professionals.
Hollywood & Mind, which hosted the launch, was founded by Cathy Applefeld Olson, who serves as founder and CEO. The organisation holds its annual Summit in Los Angeles, with the New York summit held on 6 October during Mental Health Awareness Week.
That New York event was set to feature comedian Kenan Thompson and singer-songwriter Skylar Grey, according to BroadwayWorld. Hollywood & Mind's On Location gatherings launched in October 2025 in Nashville and were planned to reach at least five cities in 2026, according to Hollywood & Mind.
The Kids Mental Health Foundation provides free resources aimed at supporting children's mental health before a crisis or concern develops, according to The Kids Mental Health Foundation. It has also released a documentary short, 'Kids Mental Health Starts with Us', featuring athletes, performers, public figures and mental health advocates discussing their own journeys.
For families following along, the test will be what arrives in 2027. The promise is practical tools for young people, parents and the professionals around them, built with clinicians in the room.
