“A strong community is the seedbed of hope,” Avery says, and he’s spent his career planting it wherever he goes. A graduating senior at Harvard College studying Sociology and Educational Studies, Avery has taught in classrooms, directed youth programs blending academics with social-emotional learning, and guided social justice nonprofits on various boards. Growing up, he witnessed his mother battle mental illness and saw firsthand how stigma stood in the way of her receiving quality care. Supporting her through that journey ignited his passion to reshape public perceptions of mental health and expand vital resources for those in need. Most recently, he has been working at Harvard Medical School to design mental health curricula aimed at empowering individuals with severe mental health illnesses and fostering peer support networks that reduce stigma and promote lasting resilience. Avery believes in harnessing the strength of those around us to shape ideals into realities. Whether it be through peer-led workshops, community storytelling events, or strategic partnerships, he builds warm, resilient networks that promote belonging and inspire real change. As a board member of The Yellow Tulip Project, he’s eager to cultivate hope and empowerment within every community YTP serves – smashing stigma and ensuring no one feels alone in their mental health journey.
