I never expected to see our world come to a complete halt.
I never expected to see empty aisles at the grocery store, such division on social media, and schools close indefinitely.
I never expected a virus to run rampant throughout our world.
I also never expected it would unite us.
For once, we’re feeling and fighting for the same thing. And even though there continues to be a lot of unexpected hardships, there have been some unexpected beautiful things to emerge as well. One being, Let’s Thrive Now.
Let’s Thrive Now, created by the Dallas/Fort Worth-based 501(c)3 nonprofit, Young Leaders for Change, is a website that collects free, valuable resources, articles, and expert tips that can help young people navigate the difficult circumstances brought on because of the coronavirus.
The website covers topics such as earning money, getting a job, staying mentally healthy, and more during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the site is to be a one-stop-shop for young people who are desperately seeking reliable and accurate information about how they can thrive during this pandemic.
The website was created after Alex Quian (who graduated from college in December 2019) saw how the coronavirus was affecting many of his friends and young people around the country. Wanting to find a way to help ease the anxieties that young people are facing, he spoke to co-founder Greg Weatherford II, who then suggested creating Let’s Thrive Now.
In addition to collecting valuable, vetted articles from across the web – Alex and Greg also recruit influential leaders and experts to produce original video content that answers visitors’ most pressing questions on a variety of topics.
Alex and Greg are no strangers to showing up for their community. During summer 2019, Alex was seeking a way to spend his summer break positively and help others, so Greg challenged him to complete 30 different service projects in 30 days. Together, they created the initiative 30 Days of Service, which in addition to completing the 30 service projects, worked to encourage young people to give back to their own communities by setting a positive example. (Read: How 30 Days of Service Will Make You Want to Give Back)
The initiative was supported by an advisory board that included Dolf Berle (CEO, Topgolf), Zoya Jackson (Administrator, Minnie’s Food Pantry), and Nakia Douglas (Executive Director, UNTD Trio Programs). Over the course of the 30 days, the initiative served over 1,800 people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and worked with over 21 different organizations and companies.
Inspired by the community impact of the 30 Days of Service initiative, Alex and Greg decided to create a more long-term and sustainable organization that could engage and empower other young people to be motivated to be leaders. In November 2019, they transitioned 30 Days of Service into Young Leaders for Change, a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
The mission of Young Leaders for Change is to empower young people to be leaders and live their best possible lives. Although their in-person programs have been put on hold due to the coronavirus, they will resume their original programming once the pandemic subsides.
Both young men have a long history of service and volunteer-based leadership.
Alex Quian is a 22-year-old DFW-area native who graduated from Cornell University in December 2019 with a degree in Information Science.
He currently is a Business Analyst at Alkami Technology, but he has long been involved in serving the community.
Greg Weatherford II is a 29-year-old serial entrepreneur. Giving back to the community has been a significant part of Greg’s life since he founded his first non-profit when he was 12 years old.
He’s extremely passionate about youth development and mentorship and has spent many years creating impactful service-learning opportunities.
Greg currently serves as the Director of Community Engagement and Special Projects for the SMU Simmons School of Education and Human Development.
Because they’re trying to build a community that can lean on each other during this time, you can support Let’s Thrive Now by sharing their website (letsthrivenow.org) or their Instagram (@letsthrivenow) with someone who you feel could use these resources.
Additionally, you can support their nonprofit, Young Leaders for Change. If interested in learning more, please contact alex@youngleaders4change.org.
