our history

SafeSpace was founded seven years ago in response to the tragic epidemic of teen suicides in Palo Alto, California (2010–2014). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classified these events as “suicide clusters,” defined as three or more deaths occurring close together in time and location.

The aftermath left students, families, educators, clinicians, and the broader community paralyzed with grief and grappling with difficult questions: Why? What did we miss? How can we prevent this from happening again? Despite abundant resources—including Stanford University, high socioeconomic status, and access to private healthcare—the tragedies persisted. Community leaders organized meetings, launched surveys, and invested millions in treatment facilities. Yet one essential voice was missing: the teens themselves.

Co-Founders Susan Bird and Liesl Moldow witnessed firsthand how their homes became after-school gathering places where teens felt safe to share openly. In those informal living room conversations, the seeds of SafeSpace were planted—a place where youth are not only supported but also empowered to be seen, heard, and valued.