Ernesto Isaac Lara is a 23-year-old youth wellbeing activist, lived experience researcher, and peer support advocate on a mission to create a happier, healthier global community.
Rooted in his healing journey, Isaac has dedicated his early career to expanding access to peer support services and enhancing his knowledge of decolonial models of community healing. Isaac is currently a Research Assistant at the Mental Health for All Lab at Harvard Medical School, where he leads the EMPOWER Peer Support Initiative. This endeavor aims to develop a digital, global peer support curriculum to equip those with lived experience of recovery to support others earlier in their healing journey. Additionally, Isaac supports the development of peer support services in his home state, California, through his work guiding the Stanford Medicine Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing’s allcove initiative.