It all started when I was 10 and my parents told me this crazy story about John Mulaney's famous joke from when I was a baby in Athens, GA. Apparently, a high school student hacked into the office there and played What’s New Pussycat over and over while I lived near the school. I thought that was hilarious, and then I found John Mulaney on Netflix. I’ve watched all his specials, and when he talked about struggling with addiction, I couldn’t stop thinking: how did he get through that? Then I read that he has ADHD and that drugs and alcohol are a common way of coping with stress of not fitting in. That made me think that maybe comedy could help other kids like me, neurodivergent kids, figure out ways to be resilient and okay with themselves at an early age without needing drugs or alcohol. I wonder if John had learned these skills when he was younger if he could have avoided the addiction part.  I'd love to ask him someday! I was so jealous of Henry who was my age at John's Baby Jay show where John talked to him in the balcony and said, "Henry,  the things I talk about...tonight...that I did recently...I don't say this explicitly, but DON'T! Alright? Don't!"

So I started the Divergent Minds Comedy Initiative when I was 10. I noticed that kids with ADHD or autism often see details and connections that other people miss, and sometimes that makes us really funny. I want to help other kids see humor as a superpower. We make videos, do activities, and try projects that show kids they can use comedy to reduce stress, build confidence, practice talking to people, even do better in school presentations. I also want to interview older neurodivergent adults to see how comedy and creative thinking have helped them in life. My hope is that kids like me can learn that our differences can actually help us make the world better…and funnier.

(insert picture of Malcolm as a baby in Athens!)

The Divergent Minds Comedy Initiative is a program of the Blue Lily Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports youth-led initiatives focused on helping others and strengthening communities. The Foundation provides a platform for young people to turn their ideas into meaningful projects that address real-world challenges. Through this initiative, Malcolm is leading an effort to help neurodiverse youth discover how humor and creative thinking can become tools for confidence, connection, and resilience.