In today’s fast-paced world, young people face growing mental health pressures that disproportionately affect BIPOC youth.
Research shows that creative expression helps reduce anxiety, improve mood, and strengthen social connections. For many, the arts aren’t just an outlet—they’re a lifeline.
Motivated by these realities, cry baby was designed with young BIPOC artist to invest in the emotional well-being and resilience of the next generation. Co-designed with 10 young Philadelphia-based youth leaders in partnership with Creative Resilient Youth and researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, cry baby aims to provide a creative space for healing and connection.
Designed by BIPOC young artists, cry baby is a website application that provides youth a safe space to check-in, receive healing-centered art prompts, and document their creative healing journey.
Inspired by Creative Resilient Youth’s healing-centered art making approach, cry baby is a digital space for expansive emotions, art making, and connection. As one co-designer put it, “there’s nothing wrong with being a cry baby.”
Your art, your data. Log daily check-ins, access personalized art prompts, and art galleries to document your healing-centered creative process. Access these features in a safe and secure personal library, accessible only to you.
Channel your check-in responses into creative outlets for stress relief. Leverage crowd-sourced prompts from other young artists and AI-assisted tools for tailored creative prompts to address your emotional and creative needs.
While you can use cry baby solo, you can also connect with like minded people on creative projects. Share your journey, inspire others, and find mutually healing support through collaborative feartures and community galleries.
Our approach to building cry baby is simple; designed by youth, for youth.
Program design and facilitation was provided by community partners Creative Resilient Youth. Funding and research support was provided by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences’ Penn4C initiative.
Creative Lead Youth Co-Designer
Youth Co-Designer
Logo Designer Youth Co-Designer
Youth Co-Designer
Youth Co-Designer
Youth Co-Designer
Youth Co-Designer
Youth Co-Designer
Youth Co-Designer
Youth Co-Designer
Executive Director, Creative Resilient Youth
Co-Design Facilitator
Co-Principal Investigator
Product Designer, Research Assistant
Engineering, Research Assistant
Engineering, Research Assistant
Co-Principal Investigator
Co-Principal Investigator
Co-Principal Investigator
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