hopefulmindsoutrea

By Caroline Su On February 17, 2026, the main Atrium at Children’s National Hospital filled with music in celebration of Lunar New Year. For one hour, the usual rhythm of a hospital morning softened as piano, marimba, and duet performances echoed through the space, offering patients, families, and healthcare staff a moment of cultural celebration and emotional lift. Hopeful Minds Outreach (HMO) was honored to present this special Lunar New Year performance as part of its mission to advance...

By Caroline Su In the dimness of his basement room, Ed Cody navigates his electric piano with a laser focus. The modern instrument boasts an array of different, multicolored buttons, each one revealing a different function. As he discovers new modes like “guitar” and “choir,” Cody feels his pulse quicken. Settling on the “classic rock” mode, Cody rests his fingers on the keyboard and begins to play his favorite tune, "Hey Jude," by the Beatles -- one of his favorites when he was younger. ...

By Caroline Su and Jenny Huang At Hopeful Minds Outreach, we believe that supporting youth mental health starts with listening to the organizations that work closest to young people in crisis. That belief guided our recent conversation with our community partner, Second Story, a nonprofit that has supported teens and families in Northern Virginia for more than five decades. On January 30th, we spoke with Cathy Benn, Vice President of Residential Services, to better understand Second Story’s...