WE TRANSFORM PAIN INTO POWER
Today’s youth are under pressure.
Now more than ever — in schools, in our communities, and online — kids are struggling with bullying, intolerance, emotional distress, identity issues, self-loathing, and self-harm.
And the consequences are devastating.
- 1 in 3 children report they’ve been bullied at school — and 30% admit to bullying others.
- Over the last decade, the number of youth experiencing mental health disorders has more than doubled — but only 20% of those affected are getting help.
- Suicide rates for teens and young adults have reached an unprecedented high — suicide is now a leading cause of death for people age 10 to 24.
- Gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers — transgender youth, nearly 12 times as likely.
Enough is enough. We can’t afford to lose any more lives to this senseless epidemic.
We believe there’s a common factor behind each of these issues: low self-esteem, or the lack of self-love. Our youth need to know they are unique, they are valuable, and they are not alone. That’s why, in 2011, we created Free2Luv®.
Free2Luv is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering, uplifting, and saving the lives of youth through the arts.
Through music, art, film, theater, dance, storytelling, and social media — the languages of youth — we’re raising awareness, starting conversations, and healing minds and hearts. We mentor youth advocates, provide platforms for story-sharing, and send empowerment packages to youth in crisis. We provide the safe spaces and tools needed for creative self-expression, to celebrate individuality and acceptance, and transform pain into power.
Our name reflects our ethos. Free2Luv means loving yourself first, so that you can be free to love others — and free to love whoever you desire.
We empower youth to raise their voices in compassion and love. That’s what truly sets us apart. We invite you to join us in creating a braver, kinder, and more loving world for all.
Founders, Tonya & Kym