I’m Stuart Young. I’m a speaker, storyteller and community builder.

I talk about mental health, identity, and belonging through my own lived experience. I’ve battled addiction, depression, and panic. I’ve lost my father to suicide. I’ve navigated systems and spaces that were never built with me in mind. Through it all, I’ve learned that community isn’t optional. It’s everything.

I grew up feeling like I didn’t belong. Not at school, not in my own skin, and sometimes not even in my own family. As a teenager, I faced homelessness and addiction. I fought hard to get into university, graduated with distinction, and eventually built a career in the energy sector as a talent strategist.

But despite the success, something was missing. I couldn’t shake the feeling of disconnection. That’s when I founded Cousins, a nonprofit that brings Indigenous youth together through skateboarding, mentorship, and culture. It has been one of the most challenging and meaningful chapters of my life. It taught me that community isn’t something you create for people. It’s something you create alongside them.