I’m honored to welcome Elliot Kallen to the Lead with Heart Podcast. Elliot is the president and co-founder of A Brighter Day, a nonprofit organization that has turned the devastating loss of his teenage son into a powerful mission to prevent teen suicide and offer hope to thousands of families.
In this deeply moving and empowering conversation, Elliot shares how his nonprofit is supporting 3,000–6,000 families each month with free mental health toolkits, a 24/7 teen crisis text line, and Zoom counseling sessions. We explore how emotional intelligence, real communication, and parent-teen connection can create protective factors against the alarming rise in teen suicide.
In this episode:
- [02:47] The loss that sparked a movement
- [05:34] Early warning signs of teen depression and suicidal thoughts
- [08:07] How social media affects teen self-worth
- [11:04] The hidden epidemic of cyberbullying
- [14:53] Practical strategies for emotionally connecting with teens
- [17:57] Programs at A Brighter Day - from text lines to Zoom therapy
- [21:14] The power of nonprofit partnerships
- [22:55] Destigmatizing suicide and mental health struggles
- [28:33] Elliot’s vision for reaching 37 million high schoolers
- [33:51] Leadership lessons from scaling a grief-born mission
RESOURCES
Teen Crisis Text Line: Text “BRIGHTER” to 741741
CONNECT WITH ELLIOT
LinkedIn: Elliot Kallen
Instagram: @abrighterdaycharity
Website: https://abrighterday.info/
Email: elliot@abrighterday.info
Phone: 510 206 1103
Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!
My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.
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CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
Produced by Ideablossoms
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