Lessons from Strangers

Lessons from Strangers is the creative outlet of Letters to Strangers, a youth-for-youth mental health nonprofit seeking to destigmatize mental illness and increase access to affordable, quality treatment.

Values

We abide by the following values when selecting which content gets published.

Intersectionality

We understand and recognize how different social and political contexts result in the systematic discrimination and exclusion of certain communities. We believe in the power of these voices of refusal, rejection and resistance.

It has a poster saying "the future is female" emphasizing feminisim and empowering women.

Feminism

We believe that it is of utmost importance to keep challenging the patriarchy and the innumerable ways it has infiltrated everything, from our societies to our psyches.

It is a held fist symbolizing solidarity and union of the people.

Decolonialism

We wish to highlight the persistence of coloniality in the spaces we inhabit and keep proposing the different way we may take in dismantling it.

Meet the Editors

An extraordinary team for an extraordinary magazine.

Founding Editor

Dan Kanceljak

Dan is a recent graduate in politics and psychology who seeks to use the skills and knowledge at his disposal to keep challenging the systems around him and provide a pathway to collective healing. By engaging with academia, working in the nonprofit sector, writing and podcasting he hopes to poke the holes in our collective consciousness so that the light may finally enter. Although Dan is not with us now, his work and dedication has allowed us to make this possible.

Communications Manager

Timothy Liyada

Timothy is a compassionate advocate and dedicated humanitarian from Malawi. He wholeheartedly believes that we are the change we want to see in the world. With a deep passion for helping and supporting individuals facing mental health crises, especially teens and young adults, he is driven to make a positive impact in their lives. Growing up in Malawi, he has witnessed firsthand the profound impact of mental health on young people, and it has fueled his determination to reach out and empower them. Armed with his education in both arts and technology, he is committed to fostering openness about mental health and inspiring young individuals to overcome their challenges. "Together, let's be the catalysts for change and create a world where mental well-being thrives".

Chief Programs Officer

Pearl Lee

Pearl is currently a student aiming to go to medical school. She hopes to have the opportunity to make a difference through the power of compassionate dialogue and understanding the unique challenges of each individual.