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Keep Tech in Check
 

Turning Life On

By Keeping Tech in Check.

 

Mission

Turning Life On’s mission is to transform societal norms surrounding smart devices, social media and technology usage by supporting, empowering and uniting parents, local ambassadors, school leaders, and leading professionals across Massachusetts and beyond. 

Through its ongoing commitment to understanding local needs, Turning Life On will empower communities by providing ambassadors with the tools and guidance necessary to sustain a grassroots movement. Regular meetings will connect ambassadors, allowing them to share best practices, build relationships, and offer mutual support.

By building strong relationships and partnerships with leading professionals in multiple fields, Turning Life On will be poised to co-create resources and refer these professionals to local ambassadors and communities. These connections will support local events and the sharing of information, and have the potential to significantly raise awareness and impact change. 

Turning Life On will also continually work to expand its base of annual philanthropic support and award grants to communities, enabling them to fund initiatives.

Vision

We envision communities where families thrive through informed and intentional use of technology, supported by local leaders who understand their unique needs.

Our Story

Turning Life On: Sparking a Movement to Keep Tech in Check

Turning Life On began in Concord, MA, as a simple promise among parents: wait until 8th grade to give kids smartphones. That promise—known as the Concord Promise—wasn’t just about delaying tech. It was about reclaiming childhood, building stronger family connections, and helping kids grow up with confidence and clarity in an increasingly digital world.

What started as a local movement quickly resonated far beyond Concord. As parents, educators, and professionals across the country reached out, one thing became clear: people everywhere are searching for better ways to raise kids in a tech-saturated world—and they want to do it together.

Since 2017, we’ve listened, learned, and grown. We’ve heard the hopes, worries, and everyday struggles of families trying to navigate screen time, social media, and smartphone use. We’ve also seen the incredible power of community: when people come together with a shared purpose, real change happens.

In 2025, Turning Life On took a bold step forward—evolving into a network of local leaders, all working to “keep tech in check” in their own communities. Today, we’re here to support, empower, and connect those leaders—parents, teachers, and professionals—who are ready to rethink the role of technology in kids’ lives.

Our mission has always been about more than just tech. It’s about connection. It’s about intention. It’s about helping kids—and the adults who care for them—live more fully, with fewer digital distractions and more real-life moments.

We believe that change starts small—one family, one school, one town at a time. And together, we can spark a healthier, more mindful approach to tech for the next generation.

Welcome to Turning Life On. We’re glad you’re here.

 

We are not anti-tech…

Technology is touching every aspect of our children’s lives from their relationships to their education and we are committed to teaching kids how to manage technology so it doesn’t manage them.

 

Won’t you join us?