Brenda Walden's Contact Details

Brenda Walden's Company Details

START | Stand Together & Rethink Technology

Kansas City, MO, US • 20 - 49 Employees
Non-Profit

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone twelve years ago, he promised it would change the world, and it really has. In many ways, our lives have been greatly improved and enriched by today's technologies. However, we are also learning that in our rush to have the latest tech products, we have accidentally begun to experience some harmful side effects, including rising rates of anxiety, depression, and even suicide for our nation's kids. Digitally, our kids are more connected than ever—yet more disconnected from real relationships. And families are on the frontlines of this epidemic; surveys show that the #1 battleground families struggle with is technology. We are the first generation of parents to face these concerns. It's like we are in a new frontier, and there is no roadmap. There is no handbook for parents telling us how to navigate this new territory. Parents are asking: how exactly DO we raise kids to maximize the benefits of tech, and minimize its harmful side effects. That's why we founded START: Stand Together and Rethink Technology. Our parent education program helps parents consider the role technology plays in their lives, create a family media plan that honors their core values, and connect with their kids in meaningful ways—both offline and online. But this program is just the start. In order to optimize its impact, we also work with community stakeholders to explore ways they can support and reinforce healthy tech use in their spheres of influence. We believe that we are on the precipice of the greatest legacy we could leave the next generation: a world where kids are captivated by life, not screens, and communities come together to pursue lives well lived.