The concept for The School Project was developed in 2019 by founders Lee Johnson and Dustin Young with the vision of creating accessible, no-cost spaces and services to support students' mental health. Focused on fostering mentally fit students through meditation, yoga, and nutrition, the initiative aimed to change how schools perceive and engage with health and wellness activities. Curated and developed by Our Own, this wellness space was placed in a retrofitted classroom within a Title I school. The goal was to address the needs of both educators and students after school, offering not only tutoring and physical fitness but also often-overlooked services like nutrition.

In addition, the project reimagined curriculum and student-driven learning opportunities, creating career pathways through the lens of mental health. The wellness spaces were designed to shift the paradigm, recognizing that students spend an average of 6-8 hours a day, nearly 180 days a year, in school. Making a mediocre approach to their well-being unacceptable.

With a focus on modern aesthetics, the spaces featured individual meditation pods, group meditation areas, yoga mats, and immersive technology. Our Own also curated daily and weekly programming, monthly activations, teacher retreats, and wrap-around mentorship support for students.

Directed by Lee Johnson and Dustin Young, The School Project documented the year-long journey from ideation to breaking ground. The documentary captured the founders' personal stories, along with the voices of educators and supporters who believed Our Own was on a mission to reshape education. The School Project premiered to widespread acclaim at Sony Pictures Studios in partnership with Sony.