NAPERVILLE, Ill., June 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Youth Outlook, Illinois’ first and longest-running social services agency dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth, announced that staff members Bri Cada (they/them) and Elexis Richardson (they/them) have been named to the 2026 Windy City Times 30 Under 30 class. The annual recognition, now in its second decade, honors LGBTQ+ young adults and allies across Chicagoland who have made substantial contributions to LGBTQ+ communities through their work in fields including health, activism, entertainment, politics, academics, and the arts.
Co-presented by Windy City Times, AIDS Foundation Chicago, and Pride Action Tank, the 30 Under 30 program highlights emerging leaders whose work is creating meaningful change. Honorees were recognized June 3 during a ceremony at the Chicago History Museum.
Bri Cada serves Youth Outlook as a Health and Wellness Navigator and DeKalb Program Site Leader. A licensed social worker with a degree from Aurora University, Bri is currently pursuing their clinical licensure. They connect LGBTQ+ young people and families with affirming resources while creating spaces where youth can build community and access support. Under Bri’s leadership, the DeKalb Drop-In Center has been revitalized, and they partnered with Youth Outlook’s youth leaders to launch the agency’s first Wellness Closet, a free resource hub providing gender-affirming items. Bri received Youth Outlook’s 2025 Excellence in Service Award.
Elexis Richardson is Youth Outlook’s Affirming Care Education Specialist. Elexis provides LGBTQ+ inclusivity training to medical providers, mental health professionals, educators, religious communities, and other audiences throughout Illinois. Their work helps create more informed, affirming environments for LGBTQ+ youth by equipping adults with the knowledge and tools to better support the young people in their lives. Elexis also developed a new internal continuing education program for agency staff and led the organization of the 2026 Future Outlook conference, Youth Outlook’s annual two-day professional development event.
“At Youth Outlook, we see firsthand the impact Bri and Elexis have on the young people and families they serve. This honor recognizes the kind of leadership our LGBTQ+ community needs right now: courageous, relationship-driven, and focused on making sure the next generation has more support than the one before it,” said Nancy Mullen, Executive Director of Youth Outlook.
Youth Outlook provides statewide services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults ages 5-24 through virtual and in-person programming, including Drop-In Centers, Rainbow Sprouts, Thrive, and Health and Wellness Navigation. All programs and services are available at no cost.
About Youth Outlook
Founded in 1998, Youth Outlook is Illinois’ first and longest-running social services agency dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth. We provide the care and community LGBTQ+ young people need to thrive, offering statewide services that include virtual and in-person programs for youth and young adults ages 5-24, caregiver and parent support, health and wellness navigation, and community education and professional development. Youth Outlook is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. youth-outlook.org
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