For immediate release
Jun 30, 2026
Like many in our field, we are saddened to hear of Ryan Stollar’s passing, and are sitting with the complexities this news brings.
Ryan was a fierce advocate for children’s safety, and a dedicated member of a growing, diverse coalition of voices that raised children’s rights in a spectrum of conversations. As Ryan knew well, the US is woefully behind in safeguarding children’s rights and safety, and we are grateful for the years of time, energy and dedication he put into this work. His willingness to leverage his own experiences brought people together and challenged others. Championing change is complex, especially in how it impacts those in our orbits. We are holding space for those many, many impacts.
The reality is, homeschool alumni in recovery from abuse and neglect do experience high rates of mental illness, and news like this can re-traumatize and trigger people. Many in the homeschool alumni community knew Ryan, personally or virtually, and we recognize that his passing may prompt a wide constellation of responses. We hold space for this complexity, and we want the many communities that Ryan impacted to know that they are not alone, and there is hope.
We are, and will continue, to fight for a world that is safer for children, and one that enables the severing of intergenerational traumas that fuel abuse and domestic violence. At the core of his work, Ryan centered children and called his audience to do the same- and that legacy is one that we will carry on.