Valerie Weisler

Valerie Weisler is an activist, educator, and public speaker whose work focuses on youth empowerment, social justice, and self-worth. Weisler founded The Validation Project, a global youth empowerment organization that teaches students to recognize their value and channel their passions into social change. The organization has reached more than 6,000 teenagers in over 100 countries. Weisler's experience as a high school student witnessing bullying inspired the creation of The Validation Project, which has since mobilized 40,000 young people to engage in community service and advocacy.

Under Weisler's leadership, The Validation Project has developed a "kindness curriculum" implemented in 1,000 schools, providing educators with tools to address community issues and foster student self-worth. The organization matches teens with mentors to develop specific skills, encouraging them to participate in local service and collaborate within the project's network. Weisler has partnered with organizations such as the United Nations, U.S. Department of Education, Instagram, L'Oréal Paris, and Harvard University to advance youth programming and advocacy. Her work has been recognized by the White House, the United Nations, the State Department, the NFL, and Seventeen Magazine.

Weisler has received honors including the National Jefferson Award of Public Service, the L'Oréal Paris Woman of Worth Award, and the Princess Diana Award. She is a Truman Scholar and has served on the Harvard Graduate School of Education advisory board. Weisler's policy proposals for female equity in the workforce have been highlighted in the official G20 Declaration. She has delivered a TED Talk in New York City, sharing her message on kindness and validation.

Weisler holds a bachelor's degree in education advocacy and a master's degree in children's rights. As a doctoral candidate at Queen's University Belfast, her research examines children's rights to seek, receive, and share information in the United States. Weisler's study is the first formal research to involve young children in designing child-friendly materials. She has also served as a Youth Delegate for the United Nations General Assembly with We Are Family Foundation. Weisler is recognized for her contributions to children's rights, education advocacy, and youth leadership.