How Brands Can Help Save Lives: A Conversation with Jaymes Black

What if your brand could become a lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis?

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, we turn the mic over to Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project. A nationally recognized LGBTQ+ advocate and nonprofit leader, Jaymes oversees the organization’s crisis intervention, research, education, advocacy, and peer support programs serving LGBTQ+ young people across the United States.

Jaymes shares how brands can become powerful allies in suicide prevention by moving beyond sponsorships and embracing meaningful partnerships. They explore why LGBTQ+ youth mental health should be treated as a universal human issue, how authentic storytelling and celebrity engagement can amplify impact, and why visibility matters during moments of crisis.

From mobilizing corporate resources to building long-term trust, Jaymes offers a compelling look at how creativity, compassion, and collaboration can help create lifesaving outcomes for young people who need support the most.

• How to reframe corporate engagement from transactional to transformational
• Why depoliticizing LGBTQ+ youth mental health positions your brand as a defender of universal human values
• The "Field Catalyst" framework for scaling impact
• How to mobilize celebrity partnerships and authentic storytelling
• Why brand presence functions as a lifeline for at-risk youth
• How to move from judgment to partnership with brands navigating fear and uncertainty

About the Guest:

Jaymes Black is CEO of The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. With more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning the nonprofit, technology, and finance sectors. She has led teams at organizations including Family Equality, Charles Schwab, Sabre Corporation, and Northrop Grumman. Jaymes made history as The Trevor Project’s first Black and first nonbinary CEO and has been recognized by TIME, Out Magazine, and numerous advocacy organizations for their leadership and impact.

Host and Guest Resources:

• Jaymes Black on LinkedIn
• Jaymes Black on Instagram
• The Trevor Project Website
• ADWEEK Website

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