On August 9, 2017 Youth Advocacy Corps hosted Brooklyn’s Health: An Unseen Priority, our first youth Summit that focused on why inequality and inequity exist in the health system. The Summit was attended by over 100 youth in Brooklyn, who discussed health and social justice issues of importance to them, and the ways in which their lives and communities can be improved. At the end of the day, the young advocates compiled a list of demands/requests to improve the lives of those affected by the various issues and presented them to local political leaders and others in power.
The youth examined how health issues intersect with immigration, race and safety, particularly with the specific topics covered throughout the day which include:
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Mental Health
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Sexual/ Reproductive Health
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General Well-Being
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Healthy Relationships
Our Second Youth Summit, Unspoken Words: A Discussion on Mental Health and Identity focused on how individual identities (including gender and sexual identity, race, immigration status, and disability) impact mental wellness. Participants developed meaningful recommendations for how NYC can better address our mental health needs. The summit also made the local news and can be seen here.
Over the most recent years, the Youth Advocacy Corps has been a part of multiple community events to bring awareness to mental health and social justice issues. Our youth advocates from our Youth Advocacy Summer Institute and Mental Health Awareness Project have been a part of workshops, community fairs, symposiums, and summits all across the city. Most recently, the 10th Cohort of our Youth Advocacy Summer Institute participated in NYPCC’s Anti-Bullying Fairs in Brooklyn and the Bronx, similar to last year's YASI Cohort who participated in the 2023 Anti-Bullying Fairs. You can view media footage of our advocates participating in 2023 here.
The beginning of our 2024 Summer was packed with Mental Health Awareness events in our home borough of Brooklyn! In May, our advocates from the Mental Health Awareness Project were a part of the Science Skills Center High Schools Mental Health Symposium. At this event, our Program Director, Jenny De La Cruz, was both the keynote speaker and on their panel discussing youth mental health alongside MHAP advocate, Nikola.
The following month, our team participated in 2 Mental Health Summits on June 6th. The King’s County District Attorney’s Office invited our team to facilitate workshops at their Youth Summit on Mental Health and Wellness. Our MHAP advocates Salma and Lorenzo along with Program Director, Jenny De La Cruz, spoke with Brooklyn Youth about the importance of bringing awareness to Mental Health and breaking down stigma surrounding Mental Health.
Over at Park Slope Collegiate & John Jay Educational Campus, the 2024 NYC Youth Summit was being hosted. MHAP Advocates Tasnim & Stacy Ann, along with Program Coordinator Denice and MHAP Program Coordinator Angie facilitated similar interactive workshops to youth, staff, and parents. After facilitating workshops, our team headed down to their resource fair to connect with the community and provide mental health resources to summit participants!
While our team has participated in many in person events, we also join in on virtual events as well! The Youth Advocacy Corps is part of the Anti-Bullying Coalition and as members of the coalition we participate in NYPCC’s Youth Listening Sessions. In 2023, our MHAP advocates, Evelyn and Jennifer Meza, from Cohort 6 facilitated segments on anxiety, healthy relationships, and cyberbullying. Later that year, fellow members of the Anti-Bullying Coalition presented anonymous data gathered from the Youth Listening Sessions at the World Anti-Bullying Forum in October 2023. In May of 2024, our advocates Reina and Lorenzo from MHAP Cohort 8 facilitated segments on identities, self-love, and healthy coping mechanisms. The Youth Advocacy Corps has participated in 4 listening sessions throughout the last years, and in each listening session, the Anti-Bullying Coalition aims to provide a space where youth feel safe to participate in conversations with one another, voicing their experiences and concerns.
