We had the good fortune of connecting with Kripa Kannan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kripa, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
Seeing others be cared for.

From writing alarming facts on the sidewalk at the age of five to speaking at national summits, I’m a passionate advocate for others. Seeing the dire situations that millions undergo worldwide is heart-wrenching, from mental health struggles to lack of clean water to inaccessibility of quality education and so much more.

With what’s going on in the world, it’s important to care for those who need it most. For me, I do this by organizing city-wide service events, drives, and fundraisers. And what inspires me to continue my meaningful service is the smile on parents’ faces when they realize that their kids will be cared for. Seeing this truly makes me happy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When my close friend and family member underwent mental health struggles in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, they had limited access to mental health resources and thoughtful care. This inspired me to reduce the stigma around mental health, encourage open conversations about it, and most importantly, pursue a world where all mental health needs are met.

The topic of mental health encompasses many areas, including mental health coverage in insurance, children’s rights, gender equality, eco-anxiety, and more. And because of that, I’ve become passionate about all of these topics. Brainstorming a course of action at the Building Hope Mental Health Strategy National Summit showed me how all of these issues intertwine.

And now, I want to spread this message to as many people as possible. Raising awareness by organizing community-wide service events with hundreds of people in attendance and speaking to dozens of nonprofit organizations and on-campus clubs has helped me broaden my reach even more.

And it only gets better from here.


The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents immigrated to the United States from India almost 20 years ago. Without them taking this journey, I wouldn’t be here in the position I am today. Their struggles in childhood poverty with a lack of basic necessities inspires me to give back to my community daily. My parents instilled a sense of service in me and for that, I’m forever thankful.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kripa_kannan

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kripakannan

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.