Perfectly Unperfect Minds Research Institute (PUMRI)

Perfectly Unperfect Minds® was founded on a belief that continues to guide everything we do: adolescent mental health matters, and every young person deserves access to the knowledge, resources, and support necessary to navigate life's challenges.

Through my experiences in healthcare administration, education, and youth mental health advocacy, I have witnessed the importance of creating spaces where young people feel safe expressing their emotions, asking questions, and seeking help without fear of judgment.

As Perfectly Unperfect Minds® continues to grow, I recognize that advocacy and education are only part of the work. We must also ask deeper questions, listen to the experiences of adolescents, and better understand the barriers that prevent young people from receiving the support they deserve.

That vision inspired the creation of the Perfectly Unperfect Minds Research Institute (PUMRI).

PUMRI represents our commitment to connecting research, education, and community voices. With a particular interest in mental health literacy and disparities affecting Black adolescents, we aim to develop meaningful research partnerships that help us understand young people's experiences and inform future approaches to mental health education.

Our research journey is just beginning. We are committed to building it responsibly, collaborating with qualified professionals, protecting the well-being of young participants, and allowing evidence—not assumptions—to guide our work.

My hope is that PUMRI will become more than a research initiative. I envision it as a bridge between the questions adolescents are afraid to ask, the experiences they struggle to explain, and the knowledge communities need to better support them.

Because understanding young minds is where meaningful change begins.