In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that traditional systems are not fully equipped to support teens and young adults navigating crisis, trauma, and emotional instability. While therapy and structured programs play an important role, many young people continue to fall through the cracks — often because they lack consistent, trusted relationships and real-world support. As a result, there is an increasing demand for a more personalized, human-centered approach that prioritizes connection, trust, and ongoing mentorship.
Kreindy Brand is the founder of Project NextGen, a rapidly growing mentorship and support organization designed to meet that need. Through one-on-one mentorship, life skills development, and hands-on guidance, Project NextGen supports teens and young adults who are often resistant to traditional systems or have not found success within them. What began as a small, relationship-driven initiative has quickly expanded to serve 100 clients, with a team of mentors providing consistent, judgment-free support. Kreindy’s work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: that real connection is often the first step toward real change.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview. Before we begin, our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to start Project NextGen?
I started out working in a mentorship program where I was really involved with teens and their families. I was running the program and building relationships with agencies and clients.
Through that experience, I saw how much these teens were struggling and how many of them were not being reached by the systems that were supposed to help them.
What I realized is that therapy on its own isn’t enough. Teens need consistent support. They need someone they can trust, someone they can reach at any time, and someone who is there for them without an agenda.
I launched Project NextGen. I didn’t open it as a business. I opened it because I wanted to help people.
What problem are you solving that other programs are missing?
It’s very hard to reach teens who are really struggling. Many of them don’t want help or won’t even answer our calls. They’ve already been through different programs, therapists, and systems that didn’t work.
A lot of them feel like people have their own agenda, so they stop trusting anyone.
What’s rare is having someone who can just show up for them without an agenda. Someone who can meet them where they are, build trust, and stay with them even when things are difficult.
That’s what we focus on.
Who are the primary clients you’re working with today?
The majority of our client base are struggling teens and young adults within the Jewish community. Many are dealing with depression, rejection, abuse, neglect, and trauma.
We also serve clients who are not as severely struggling, because there is such a need for structured and consistent mentorship.
But our specialty is working with teens who have been through different programs and are burnt out from the experience.
How does your mentorship model work in practice?
We set the client up with a mentor, which is the focus and base of the program.
The relationship is very natural and casual. They spend time together and build a connection. There are no expectations in the beginning. The goal at first is not to push goals, but to build trust.
Once trust is there, the client will start to open up. Then we can work toward goals, whether that’s emotional support, getting them connected to therapy, or helping them move forward in life.
There’s also ongoing support throughout the week, not just in person but through calls, texts, and communication with parents and other professionals.
How were you able to grow so quickly?
A lot of it came from my network and relationships.
I already had strong connections with agencies and referral sources, and when I started this, they were ready to send clients.
There’s also a real need for this kind of support. It’s very hard to find programs that can actually reach these teens, so when something like this exists, people are looking for it.
That combination is what really is driving our growth.
What do you look for when bringing on mentors?
We choose mentors for their ability to connect. They need to be people who can build trust, who are genuine, and who can be there without judgment.
We have clinical supervisors who run weekly group supervision. The mentors come together to discuss what’s coming up with their clients, get guidance, and talk through situations. If there isn’t something specific that week, the supervisors bring up topics that are important for them to understand.
Once trust is built, how do you help clients move forward?
Once the trust is there, the client starts to open up and share what’s really going on.
From there, we can start working with them more directly. For some clients, that means getting them connected to therapy if they don’t already have it. For others, it can be more practical support, like working toward a GED, figuring out career direction, or helping them understand what they’re good at.
Some clients are dealing with addiction or other serious challenges, and they need someone to help guide them through that as well.
It really depends on the individual, but everything builds off that relationship.
What challenges are you facing as you grow?
Things are shifting as we grow. When I started, it was just me and I didn’t have a big vision or strategic business plan. Now there are more clients and more moving parts. Roles are changing, and I’m figuring out how to structure things as we expand.
What is your long-term vision?
My vision is to give light and hope to people in crisis.
To show people that they are not a problem, and that it’s okay to not be okay, and that it’s okay to need help.
I have big ideas for the future, but I want to make sure that anything I build is done properly and responsibly. For example, there are teens who don’t have stable homes, and there’s a real lack of proper housing options, especially for girls.
If someone wants to get involved or collaborate, what are you looking for?
People who have energy and an ability to make a positive first impression. People who want to help and who have a passion to connect with teens in a real way.
As we grow, there are more opportunities to bring in people who can add value and be part of what we’re building.
How can people get in touch with you or learn more about Project NextGen?
People can reach out through our website to connect with us directly.
Whether someone is looking for support, interested in becoming a mentor, or wants to learn more about what we do, we’re always open to connecting.
Email: info@projectnextgen.org
Phone: 718.247.8357
About The Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience as a Founder and CEO. While attending Ohio State University, he launched his first company, Choice Recovery, Inc., a nationally recognized healthcare collection agency — twice ranked the #1 workplace in Ohio. In 2013, he founded [re]start, helping thousands of people find meaningful career opportunities. After selling both companies, Chad shifted his focus to his true passion — leadership. Today, he coaches founders and CEOs at Built to Lead, advises Authority Magazine’s Thought Leader Incubator.
Kreindy Brand: The Heart Behind Project NextGen and a New Model of Mentorship That Actually Works was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.