Meet the founders » We R H.O.P.E.

Meet the Founders

Sean Perry

Founder | President | Executive Director

Sean Perry is a recognized innovator and passionate advocate dedicated to reshaping the landscape of youth mental health support. As Founder, President, and Executive Director of We R H.O.P.E., Inc., Sean has directly supported over 3,000 children since 2018, achieving a remarkable 50% reduction in anxiety symptoms among participants. He pioneered and developed the youth mental health coaching model, uniquely embedding trained coaches directly within schools to deliver daily, proactive mental health support—a groundbreaking approach that has significantly improved access and reduced stigma.

In addition, Sean is credited with being the first to introduce Youth Emotional CPR (eCPR) into school settings, further solidifying his role as a thought leader and innovator in mental health education. He also designed and launched the nation’s only youth mental health wellness retreat exclusively dedicated to emotional CPR, creating an innovative safe space where young people learn essential coping strategies and resilience skills.

Sean’s expertise extends to authorship, with several impactful resources for families navigating complex mental health challenges, including:

Understanding Anxiety: Tools and Strategies Handbook
Understanding ADHD and Empowering Families with Tools for Success
Parenting the Spectrum: A Guide for Navigating Your Child’s Journey
Understanding the IEP and 504 Process: Advocating for Your Child’s Education

His dedication to community mental health is reflected in his leadership roles, serving as a Board Member for the National Empowerment Center (NEC), Mind Blossom—a nonprofit committed to empowering mental well-being through evidence-based mental health education and community engagement—and as an Advisory Board Member for the New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) and the Advisory Board of the MHLLC (mental health literacy collaborative) who are committed to mental health literacy.

A respected public speaker, Sean has presented at leading institutions such as Dartmouth College, Franklin Pierce University, and at numerous conferences and events across the East Coast. He is currently completing his MBA at the University of East London (expected Spring 2025), consistently combining strategic insight with compassionate leadership to drive systemic change in mental health care for young people and their communities.

Contact Sean: [email protected] | 802 – 234 – 3581

James Reinstein

Founder | Vice President

James Reinstein has been working in the Mental Health field for nearly a decade. James is the Vice President and Co-Founder of We R H.O.P.E. He is determined to break the stigma surrounding mental health by bringing education to not only the youth we have today but communities altogether. James is a Nonviolent Intervention Specialist and an Exposure Response Prevention Specialist. He received his Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Lyndon State College. James is trained to be a facilitator of eCPR and is also trained to train staff in the Signs of Suicide Prevention Program.

Contact James: [email protected] | 802 – 227 – 7419