Focus Topic: Purpose & Meaning

A national poll reveals the complex reality and stark disparities of youth mental health while emphasizing youth voices in solutions.

Big news from one of our partners, Rutger Bregman! Historian and author Rutger Bregman announced as BBC Radio 4's Reith lecturer for 2025. The 2025 lectures will be recorded in front of live audiences in London, Liverpool, Edinburgh and the United States.

I'm heading abroad with the Gambrell Foundation, hoping to learn new ways of seeing. In Finland and Denmark I want to better understand how people create and nurture belonging in everyday life, and what those lessons might mean for us at home. “We are all responsible for bringing each other alive.” — Rowan Williams

What do the happiest countries in the world prioritize for kids? A reflection on joy, creativity, and how Charlotte can design a better childhood.

AIBM looks at the link between work, education, and suicide—and how tailored solutions can save lives.

The Contribution Project is funding youth-led ideas that strengthen communities. Apply September 8–30 for $400 support!

In our quest to learn from global communities and support those living greatly in Charlotte and beyond, we partnered with Glocalities, an Amsterdam-based international research agency renowned for cross-cultural research into behavioral psychology and values. I sat down with co-founder Martijn Lampert to delve into their unique approach and the insights they are uncovering.

Check out highlights from the August 2025 trip to Washington, D.C. with this year's cohort of DifferenceMakers®.

How can we build cities where young people thrive? This Q&A with the German Marshall Fund explores a bold new model of youth-led civic co-creation in Charlotte.

This inaugural issue brings together stories, interviews, and reflections that explore how purpose shapes our lives, work, and communities.