Juan Acosta is a first generation Mexican immigrant, who grew up in Woodland California. He began his advocacy work locally at age 13. At 21, Juan drafted a historic LGBTQ+ proclamation for his hometown of Woodland. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Francisco State University. His work is focused on underserved communities specifically on the LGBTQ+ , Immigrant and Latinx community. He has served on various national committees and speaks at conferences and festivals. Some of his speaking engagements have included; United Nations Side Events and the first-ever Youth Mental Health Action Forum White House Event. Juan co-authored the New York Times Bestselling “Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community” with musical artist and actress Lady Gaga + other Born This Way Foundation Reporters. He regularly collaborates with numerous organizations and brands. His work has been featured by Mashable, Yahoo!, DOSOMETHING, MTV, and more. Acosta was recognized on STAT News 2023 STATUS list for his influential work in life sciences. He currently serves as a Board Member for Steinberg Institute.