A movement centering holistic and ancestral healing for young people’s mind, body, and soul.

We envision a future where every person is a healer—rooted in love, grounded in ancestral wisdom, inspired by culture, and empowered by community to heal ourselves and the planet.

Meet the Team

Meet the healers behind Hidden Healers – a team rooted in lived experience, storytelling, and cultural wisdom.

  • Chief Partnerships Officer


    Maddox (he/they) is a social impact visionary from the concrete jungle of NYC, who believes in the idea of Protopia. Protopia is the idea that every day we can actively work towards the world we want to see. MADDOX is a co-founder of Direct Cash Transfers as an intervention to end youth homelessness, he believes in the role imagination plays in ending youth homelessness. He has expanded the narrative shift beyond a seat at the table and supporting people with lived experience to, not just have a seat at the table but to also be supported to have their own homes both metaphorically and literally. Making sure that people who are directly impacted are at the forefront of the decisions that will impact their lives and that our policies are reflective of the needs of our most marginalized. 

  • Co-founder

    Kheira (she/her) is a Muslim Algerian American, is an undergraduate student at George Mason University, passionate about creating spaces [literally] by studying civil & infrastructure engineering and [figuratively] by empowering individuals to create the change they want to see. Her involvement with Our Minds Matter has informed her passion for creating safe spaces that destigmatize mental health and promote wellness. She has also had the chance to share her story at Harvard University’s National Muslim Women’s Summit 2020, The Global Health Leaders Conference at Johns Hopkins University, and advocate with VOICE-IAF, This is My Brave, and Promote Care Prevent Harm. Kheira finds great joy in making others smile and helping them to believe in their best selves!

  • Chief Executive Officer


    Ayanna Kelly (she/her/ella) is a storyteller, advocate, and community builder dedicated to reclaiming ancestral healing for the global majority. As the co-founder of Hidden Healers, she channels her lived experience, deep empathy, and background in human systems to create spaces where healing is accessible, culturally grounded, and transformative. A disabled veteran and former national security professional, Ayanna has worked across government, tech, and consulting, always centering people and equity in her work. She is a proud Afro-Latina, a daughter of Dominican immigrants, and an active voice for mental health advocacy. Through Hidden Healers, she is fully committed to uplifting communities, amplifying hidden healing practices, and ensuring that those often left out of traditional mental health spaces are seen, heard, and supported. She resides in Virginia with her spouse, two children, and chocolate lab.

  • Co-founder

    Mahmoud is an Egyptian-American innovator and holistic mental health leader who combines 15+ years of lived experience with a visionary, systems-driven approach to transform youth mental health. He co-leads the Hidden Healers movement, dedicated to centering ancestral healing practices for BIPOC youth through accessible, culturally grounded approaches, community, and love. This movement includes the MTV Hidden Healers Campaign, a historic initiative that reached over 10 million people, and the Hidden Healing Fund, a $1M partnership with Pinterest and MTV to accelerate holistic healing. As the founder of FloraMind, Mahmoud created one of the first culturally relevant mental health programs for youth globally. Across his initiatives, including FloraMind, campaigns, engagements, and consulting/advising corporations, governments, and nonprofits, Mahmoud's work has impacted over 15 million youth and families, advocating for youth mental health investment and leadership. Mahmoud has been honored at the White House by President Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, MTV, and the Surgeon General as a top youth mental health advocate. Recognized by President Bill Clinton, Ashoka, and Forbes, he is also a Stanford d.School Innovation Fellow. Known for redefining mental wellness, Mahmoud's TED talk on toxic positivity has sparked vital conversations. He serves on the board of Mental Health America and the 988 National Steering Committee for suicide prevention.

WHAT WE DO

Hidden Healers reimagines mental health by reclaiming ancestral healing practices, amplifying community care, and empowering young people from the global majority to heal through storytelling, education, and advocacy.

WHY WE DO IT

Mental Health is currently non-inclusive, inaccessible, and inequitable for the global majority.

HALF

Half of youth and young adults studied report experiencing moderate to severe depression or anxiety.

42%

Forty-two percent report exposure to at least one source of racial trauma, such as interactions with police, teachers, and employers.

16%

Sixteen percent of racial/ethnic minority groups represented within the psychology workforce.

HOW WE DO IT

  • We create digital campaigns, films, and music to reclaim ancestral wisdom and uplift grassroots healers, like through our award-winning MTV campaign and upcoming global documentary.

  • We bring healing into everyday spaces like schools and barbershops and plan to partner with companies like Lyft and Delta to train “everyday healers” using tech that centers care and empathy.

  • We develop strategic partnerships and resources that make an impact. Focused on a scalable training platform, to amplify community-driven solutions without replacing human connection.

We’re bridging the gap between modern mental health systems and ancestral healing practices. In a world facing eco-anxiety and climate collapse, healing is not just personal—it’s vital for the planet’s future.

Help us build the bridge for healing.

Let’s work together

Have a story to share, a question, or want to collaborate?

Reach out—we’d love to connect!