We put humanity at the center of learning.
Which means we design the systems, stories, and relationships that let young people thrive — and in doing so, strengthen our democracy.
our mission
We create the conditions for young people to grow into their power — grounded in history, connected to community, and supported in their wellbeing.
our vision
We imagine a world where:
Adolescence is treated as a time of creation and becoming.
Schools, museums, libraries, and communities work together as ecosystems of belonging and contribution.
Young people are trusted to matter and care.
In this world, civics isn’t a subject. Where civic thriving is at the core of growing up.
how we work
Voice + Narrative
Shifting imagination through youth-led storytelling and bold thought leadership.
Products + Tools
Design science-backed curricula, games, and civic learning resources.
Networks + Ecosystems
Weaving coalitions that turn silos into synergy.
Scaling What Works
Using research and data to grow
what lasts, with integrity and trust.
what makes us different
We co-design with teens.
Their brilliance is our compass.
We are system-builders and movement partners.
Not just program providers.
We unite history, humanities and learning science.
Not just program providers.
We are trusted by leading institutions.
Like Carnegie and Kauffman.
our values in action
“Co” is a superpower.
We build across generations, sectors, and systems.
Teens are magnificent.
Their ideas guide our work.
Hope wins.
We speak with clarity and possibility.
Play is our posture.
Curiosity and joy fuel discovery.
We think in generations.
We act with care for the past and responsibility for the future.
what makes us different
We co-design with teens.
Their brilliance is our compass.We unite history, humanities, and learning science.
We are system-builders and movement partners,
not just program providers.We co-design in relationship with our core communities
Kansas City, Pittsburgh, DallasWe are trusted by leading institutions,
like Carnegie and Kauffman.
our values in action
Teens are magnificent.
Their ideas guide our work.Hope wins.
We speak with clarity and possibility.Play is our posture.
Curiosity and joy fuel discovery.“Co” is a superpower.
We build across generations, sectors, and systems.We think in generations.
We act with care for the past and responsibility to the future
our story
The Co:Lab was born from a 2024 merger of two pioneering organizations:
History Co:Lab was founded to strengthen democracy by transforming history education.
iThrive Games is a research and design studio specializing in learning for adolescent thriving.
Together, we combine deep roots in history, adolescent development, and networks across fields and silos with a bold vision for the future.
Our logo reflects this connectivity: a tree with roots and networks, symbolizing growth, connection, and civic thriving.
Experiential civics is teen-centered, community-connected learning in history, arts, and the humanities. We focus on giving young people opportunities to be curious and active learners who can and will contribute to our common purpose.
we are a team of teams
The History Co:Lab is a systems-change initiative with a bold vision for the future. We envision a world in which all young people can engage to advance civic well-being for themselves, society and the planet.
We know that such an endeavor requires a collaborative approach, with a fluid, open team that includes and engages anyone with the same vision of world.
We are a small core team that sees all change as a collaborative team sport. We seek to work with any organization and individual interested in using history to empower young people to make our community better.
our team
Co-leads
Fernande Raine
Fernande is led by a lifelong conviction that history can be fuel for a new, inclusive democratic culture. She obtained her History Ph.D. from Yale, and early in her career worked as a consultant with McKinsey and Innosight. She ran the Human Rights Center at Harvard’s Kennedy School, and launched and led the “Measurement in Human Rights” project. She launched several programs during 11 years as an intrapreneur at Ashoka and co-led the research effort into systems change leadership. Fernande learned history in a German high school in the 1980s as if the future of civilization depended on it.
Susan Rivers
Susan has had a long career of championing adolescent wellbeing, most recently through her leadership of iThrive Games, where she merges her psychology expertise with innovative game design to support teen mental health. After co-founding the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, she came to iThrive to combine research with designing learning tools that foster teens' social and emotional growth, underpinned by her belief in the untapped potential of young minds.
Susan has continued her love for research as the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Games, Self, and Society and is an alum of the Billions Institute's Leadership Fellowship.
Team Leads
Tess Duncan
Learning Ecosystems
Jane Lee
Product Development
Michelle Bertoli
Learning Design
Emma Haseley
Systems Design
Youth Partners
Cameron Jones
Pittsburg Mapping Lead
Jay Gorrepathi
Teen Toolkit Lead
Victor Ye
UnTextbooked Founder Ambassador & Marketing
Sidney Clarke
UnTextbooked Producer Ambassador
Alec Lai
Finance
board of directors
Dina Buchbinder
#AshokaFellow #Founder #EducationForSharing
Meredith Kellner
#StrategicAdvisor #ImpactDriven
#Collaborator
Nick Pineda
#Changemaker #Inclusive
Jane Wei Skillern
#MasterWeaver #Networks #CollectiveImpact
Victor Ye
#SocialEntrepreneur #StudentUSC #Founder #InnovaYouth #AshokaChangemaker #UnTextbookedPodcaster
generous donors
Libby and Aaron Albright
Scott Anthony
Todd Bourell and Brooke Bailey
Bill Drayton
Yelena Dudochkina
Jeff and Christa Hawkins
Meredith and Peter Kellner
George and Bicky Kellner
William Kelly
Ginna Martin
Nina and Nick von Moltke
Steve and Marianne Noll
Matt Ogden
Elizabeth Planet
Amanda Pustilnik
JC de Swaan
Eckhard Waelzholz
Matt and Covie Weinzierl
Francis Wilmerding
Brian Trelstad
Anonymous, Munich