KidSpirit is a nonprofit online magazine and community by and for youth to engage each other about life’s big questions in an open and inclusive spirit. Its mission is to promote mutual understanding among 11- to 17-year-olds of diverse backgrounds and support their development into world citizens with strong inner grounding.

Our Model and Vision

Since 2008, KidSpirit's unique process has empowered teens through creative expression and youth-led collaboration to raise their voices about questions that go to the heart of life. Founded by Elizabeth Dabney Hochman, the organization is led by an all-youth network of editors around the world who edit submissions collaboratively, decide on the magazine’s quarterly themes, set the editorial agenda, and discuss ethical, philosophical, and spiritual topics. Ad-free and unaffiliated, KidSpirit provides a critical outlet for teenagers everywhere to discover and highlight the essential humanity transcending divergent points of view.

KidSpirit is proud to have been granted consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and is also formally associated with the UN Department of Global Communications. Click here to view Elizabeth Dabney Hochman’s remarks to the United Nations Committee on NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC, on the importance of youth voice. And listen here for her in-depth interview on KidSpirit’s unique model and vision in the launch episode of the UN Executive Committee’s podcast, “On the Ground.”

The magazine is in syndication on the Huffington Post and Spirituality & Practice and has won numerous awards from a rare combination of parenting, educational, and journalistic organizations.

KidSpirit aims to build a truly inclusive and welcoming conversation that emphasizes authenticity, personal growth, and engagement. We invite anyone between the ages of 11 and 17 to contribute or to join an Editorial Board. Please visit our Get Involved section to learn more about publishing your work, becoming an editor, or facilitating a conversation about one of the 60 themes KidSpirit contributors have explored.