After several years of dreaming, planning, and designing, I’m thrilled to finally share some big news: kid-grit and Mizzen Education have officially launched a brand-new series of 20 social emotional learning, life skills, and wellness-based activities for elementary-aged youth—crafted specifically for the out-of-school time space (and they work just as well for the K12 learning community). And the best part? They’re completely free.

Why does this matter so much to me? Because we know—thanks to research and experience—that when young people learn emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and real-world life skills early on, they thrive. Academically. Socially. Emotionally. These are the foundations of long-term success, and I believe every child, from all backgrounds, deserves access to them.

But this moment is about more than just new content. It’s a personal milestone, a story that’s come full circle.

Carlos Santini, CEO of Mizzen Education, and I go way back. We worked together from 2003 to 2006 at the Los Angeles After-School All-Stars—I, leading creative programs in theatre, storytelling, and leadership, and Carlos driving impact from the administrative side.

One of our proudest collaborations was a student-led service-learning video project that won the organization a $10,000 grant from State Farm. That spark? It never left us. Fast forward twenty years, and here we are—reunited and reimagining youth empowerment together.