We are proud to introduce our 2025 Next Gen Advisory Council members! This group of 17 passionate young professionals is dedicated to advancing Didi Hirsch’s mission and driving positive change in mental health and wellness across our community.
The council includes: Sarah Gilman, Chair, Juan Acosta, X. Ari, Katrina Baker, Adia Fadaei, Jaime Garner, Noa Gasway, Eli Graham, Michael Huynh, Kristen Lew, Sebastian Much, Jennie Ostendorf, Arielle Pollock, Vanessa Porea, Rebecca Prassas, Jason Seto, and Andrea Stern.
As ambassadors, Council members will focus on networking, fundraising, and advocacy, using their diverse backgrounds to strengthen our services. They will actively engage in Didi Hirsch events and collaborate with board members and senior leadership.
“We’re grateful to have this incredible group as an integral part of Didi Hirsch,” said Lyn Morris, LMFT, CEO. “Their passion, perspective, and commitment to mental health will strengthen our programs and broaden our reach. Many have already contributed as dedicated volunteers and advocates, and we’re excited to continue this meaningful work together through the Council.”
In 2023, Didi Hirsch launched a 3-year strategic plan focused on expanding mental health services to address the growing crisis. Didi Hirsch is stepping up through expanded school partnerships, growing Teen Line, and providing a safe haven for youth at Our Third Place. The Next Gen Advisory Council will play a key role in connecting us with new partners, raising awareness, and advocating for our work in fresh, impactful ways.
“It’s incredible watching this council grow—not just in size, but in impact” said Sarah Gilman, Next Gen Advisory Council Chair. “Every member brings a valuable perspective and a deep passion for mental health advocacy—we’re excited to continue building momentum together and extend the reach and awareness of Didi Hirsch’s indispensable resources for young people.”
To inquire about partnership opportunities with the Didi Hirsch Next Gen Council, contact Elana Helgesen at [email protected] or Robin Hyerstay at [email protected].
2025 Next Gen Council Members
Sarah Gilman, Next Gen Advisory Council Chair
Sarah Gilman is an actress, USC alum, and mental health activist based in Los Angeles. She stars on CBS’s CSI: Vegas, known for roles in I Didn’t Do It, Daphne & Velma, and Last Man Standing. A 2019 USC Film & Television grad, Sarah previously worked in PR at the Berggruen Institute. Passionate about suicide prevention and youth mental health, she collaborates with organizations like the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, Fountain House, and Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services.
Juan Acosta
Juan Acosta is a first-generation Mexican immigrant, mental health advocate, LGBTQ activist, and public speaker from Woodland, California. At 21, he drafted a historic LGBTQ proclamation for his town. Focused on underserved LGBTQ, immigrant, and Latinx communities, Juan has spoken at major events, including the United Nations and the White House Youth Mental Health Forum. Co-author of Channel Kindness with Lady Gaga, his work has been featured by MTV, Yahoo, and more. He was named to STAT News’ 2023 STATUS list and The Advocate’s 30 Under 30.
X. Ari
X. ARI is a Canadian queer alt-pop artist, songwriter, sound healer, mental health advocate & founder of WisdoMania Foundation (501c3 nonprofit). Her motto is to turn “Pain into Power,” which means transmuting burdens into blessings and transforming our weaknesses into our strengths. X. ARI’s goal is to make an impact in our community by spreading her message, light, and healing and by teaming up with others to make a meaningful difference.
Katrina Baker
Katrina Baker, M.Ed. is a corporate learning and development leader at Adobe. Outside of Adobe, Katrina delivers programs for educators that relate to learning strategy and technology, and she is the author of five related books. Prior to working in education, Katrina worked in voiceover, music and video production for clients such as Disney Channel and Comedy Central. In addition to serving on the advisory council, Katrina volunteers as a crisis counselor with Didi Hirsch. She became involved in mental health advocacy after losing her dad to suicide in 2016.
Adia Fadaei
Adia Fadaei is a clinical psychology doctorate student with over 7 years of experience in advocacy. She has been a 988 Lifeline Counselor and Speakers Bureau Member at Didi Hirsch. She has worked with the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), Public Policy Advocate for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) California Policy Committee, and a National Student Advisory Committee Member for Active Minds. She was part of Rare Beauty’s first Rare Impact Mental Health Ambassadors cohort and represented youth at the White House during the Mental Health Youth Action Forum.
Jaime Garner
Jaime Garner is a Senior Footwear developer at TOMS shoes with nearly 10 years of experience in the footwear industry. Through her work at TOMS she is able to make products that help make a difference in people’s lives. Bringing awareness and destigmatizing access to mental health resources is a huge passion for her and she hopes to be able to bring her own personal and professional experiences to the advisory council to help grow the reach of Didi Hirsch. Jaime graduated from the University of Southern Indiana and holds a B.S. in English.
Noa Gasway
Noa Gasway graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Psychology, completing her degree in two years. She attended UC Irvine’s Post-Baccalaureate program and worked as a research assistant in Dr. Alyson Zalta’s Trauma and Resilience Lab. Noa has volunteered with Didi Hirsch’s 988 Suicide Lifeline, worked as a residential counselor, and serves with NAMI’s Next Generation Community. Currently a Masters’ candidate at California Lutheran University, Noa is passionate about suicide prevention, trauma, and mental health for underserved communities.
Eli Graham
Eli is a born and raised native Angeleno with a deep personal connection to advocacy for mental health and suicide-prevention solutions. He currently works as the Director of Communications for Los Angeles Mission, one of LA’s largest and oldest institutions serving homeless individuals on Skid Row. His work in innovating the digital outreach for the institution and forming the LA Mission Arts Council has been profiled by Forbes and others for helping reach a new audience of supporters. Eli has also worked on communications and PR projects for the nonprofit Nova Ukraine during the Ukraine war, Volkswagen, AT&T and others.
Michael Huynh
Michael Huynh is a mental health researcher and social epidemiologist completing his PhD in Public Health at UC Irvine. Raised in Little Saigon, he advocates for community belonging and social mobility, particularly for Southeast Asian refugee families. Previously a crisis line counselor at Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center, Michael’s research focuses on the impact of social relationships on mental health for Asian American adults and adolescents. He aims to strengthen mental health support for Asian American communities and college students.
Kristen Lew
Kristen Lew (she/her) is a mental health advocate, podcaster, and nonprofit organizer from Orange County, California, focused on making mental healthcare accessible and affordable. A Stanford student studying psychology, human biology, and public policy, Kristen launched The Care Café podcast to address mental health stigma. After losing her best friend to suicide, she helped pass California Senate Bill 14 to secure excused mental health days for students across her state and continues advocating for digital wellness and culturally competent care.
Sebastian Much
Sebastian Much is a mental health advocate, entrepreneur, and former athlete. He is the founder and CEO of Wellwave, a mental health company offering holistic, data-driven solutions for niche communities. A Princeton graduate with a degree in Sociology and a certificate in Entrepreneurship, Sebastian’s personal mental health journey fuels his advocacy. He co-founded Perfect Business and participates in mentorship and speaking engagements. Sebastian is committed to amplifying mental health conversations through his work with the Next Gen Advisory Council at Didi Hirsch.
Jennie Ostendorf
Jennie Ostendorf, MSW, is a therapist and mental health advocate focused on destigmatizing mental illness and improving access to care. Based in Los Angeles, Jennie provides affordable therapy at Wright Institute LA and has trained at USC and St. Joseph Center. She works with Experience Camps, supporting children who’ve lost a caregiver. Passionate about preventative mental health, Jennie views suicide prevention as a systemic issue, advocating for cultural change, social justice, and policy reform. She holds degrees from USC and Barnard College.
Arielle Pollock
Arie Pollock, M.S., is a Clinical Psychology PsyD student at the University of La Verne, focused on mental health, accessibility, and technology. Since 2020, she has volunteered as a crisis counselor with Didi Hirsch’s National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. With over a decade of experience in disability advocacy, Arie previously led accessibility initiatives at Dropbox and Yahoo. She is also a marketing consultant for Untapped Ventures, advocating for a future where all voices, particularly those with disabilities, are included.
Vanessa Porea
Vanessa Porea is a licensed therapist and Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist, currently a trainer and consultant with UCLA Health’s Public Mental Health Partnership. A Michigan native, she holds a Master’s in Professional Counseling from Central Michigan University and a post-graduate certificate in addictions from UCLA. Vanessa has held roles from Case Manager to Clinical Director in community and private settings. Passionate about mental health and addiction, she collaborates with nonprofits like Shatterproof and advocates for ethical, evidence-based treatment.
Rebecca Prassas
Rebecca Prassas has been working at a consulting firm in the health insurance industry since graduating from UCLA last spring. While in school, she gained experience working in the public health consulting industry. Rebecca has always been passionate about mental health and has experience working for a youth crisis line, doing mental health-related legislative advocacy, leading mental health initiatives in schools, and participating in other volunteer opportunities.
Jason Seto
Jason Seto is a Member of Didi Hirsh’s Next Gen Advisory Council, and also a Crisis Counselor with the Suicide Prevention Center where he has volunteered since 2023. Alongside Didi Hirsh, Jason is a Staff Data Scientist and Manager at Uber Technologies. Since 2017, Jason has led and built technical teams across the globe (including offices in San Francisco, Hong Kong, India, and LA) to make transportation safer and more accessible for everyone.
Prior to Uber and Didi Hirsh, Jason was a data scientist and engineer across a variety of industries including lending, fintech, consulting, government, non-profit, finance and engineering in the U.S. and abroad.
Andrea Stern
Andrea Stern is a brand marketer at Centerfield, leading brand strategy and integrated marketing for flagship publications. She has worked in real estate marketing, advertising sales, and television production, gaining expertise in strategic partnerships and social media campaigns. Andrea holds a Master’s in Digital Marketing and Design and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Brandeis University. Passionate about community service and mental health advocacy, she serves on the Jewish Professional Women committee and enjoys tennis, pickleball, and crossword puzzles.
