- A person who introduces new methods, ideas, or products or makes changes to something already established
- A person who is willing to pivot and think inside and outside of the box
- A person who is comfortable with uncertainty and risk-taking
- A person who is a doer, thinker, and visionary
meet our innovators
innovators
in·no·va·tor /ˈinəˌvādər/Noun
Breakthrough Accelerator teams, selected for their commitment to improving outcomes for young people and the promise of their work, come to the program with established innovations. Through Breakthrough, teams test, refine, and strengthen their innovations in ways that align with their vision—whether that involves commercialization, evaluation, or other sustainable pathways. Their expertise spans fields such as public health, social work, education, parenting, and the arts, bringing a wide range of perspectives to the work. While each innovation and team background is different, all teams share a common goal: advancing effective, youth-centered solutions that support adolescent health and well-being.
During their time in Breakthrough, our teams have:
- Tested ideas and prototypes with hundreds of end users
- Worked closely with young people to refine and iterate on their innovation
- Developed new ways to measure their impact and evaluate their success
- Built compelling pitches and improved their storytelling skills
- Developed plans for growth, outreach, and fundraising
- Connected with a group of similar innovators to share successes and challenges
Cohort 2 Teams
The Kool Mom
The Kool Mom reimagines support for young parents by bringing education to them, paired with strong peer support and holistic care. Their innovation fosters confidence, connection, and growth so young parents and children can thrive together.
Answer
Answer is developing a conversation-based card game for youth ages 13–21 to play with peers or with adults in their lives who want to offer support but may feel unsure how to start or deepen these discussions. Played in pairs or small groups, this innovation normalizes conversations that are often avoided, while building trust, empathy, content knowledge, and mutual understanding. By making these essential interactions not only possible but playful and meaningful, the innovative game helps youth and adults connect more deeply and develop the language, confidence, and tools they need to talk about what really matters.
Build-A-natomy
Build-A-natomy is a DIY workshop kit that combines art and interactive learning to teach anatomy and spark meaningful conversations about the body. Each kit includes a facilitator’s guide with step-by-step instructions and all the necessary craft supplies. This engaging, hands-on workshop helps participants explore anatomy and reduce feelings of shame around their bodies.
Health Education, Research, and Evaluation (HERE) Consulting
Health Education, Research, and Evaluation (HERE) Consulting is developing a social media toolkit designed to normalize open, stigma-free discussions about sexual health and relationships to eliminate shame and encourage young adults (ages 18–24) to have open communication with peers.
Cohort 1 Teams
ATLAS
ATLAS is a web-based sexual health education resource that deeply considers the learning needs and experiences of autistic youth. This multimedia resource shares plain-language sexual health information through interactive games, real-life scenarios, and personalized learning paths.
Beyond the Bump
Beyond the Bump recruits and trains doulas to provide teen friendly, trauma informed care to pregnant and parenting teens. Beyond the Bump’s goal is to equip doulas with the tools and knowledge they need to empower teens to have the experience they desire and a positive transition into parenthood.
HBCU Wellness Collective
The HBCU Wellness Collective is a peer education program that aims to foster open conversations about sexual health, empower students to advocate for their needs, and improve health outcomes for HBCU communities. The program’s six pillars—student representation, comprehensive training, peer education networks, normalization of conversations, transformational impacts, and advocacy—work together to create a supportive and empowering environment for students.
Stigma RPG
Stigma RPG is a role-playing game in which participants combat “stigma” and engage with concepts like discussing consent and boundaries with partners, exploring healthy relationship patterns, and preventing disease and pregnancy during sexual activity. With trusted and knowledgeable adults as facilitators, Stigma RPG bridges the gap between youth who have been traditionally overlooked and vital sexual health information.
Up to Us
Up to Us is a series of three fictional short films written by and for formerly incarcerated and justice system-impacted youth. The films are accompanied by interactive arts-based workshops facilitated by trained sexual health educators. The workshops use humor, creative activities, and collaborative discussion to encourage critical engagement with the film content and promote attitude and behavior change around the often-taboo topic of sexual health.