Peer Health Exchange Youth Advocates Build Solutions for Systemic Change
April 16 2024 - 2:08PM
The Peer Health Exchange Community Youth Advocates Group is one of
four groups that make up Peer Health Exchange’s Youth Advisory
Board. The CYA group provides a platform for young advocates, aged
13-18, to voice their concerns and actively make positive change.
Youth participants are incentivized by Peer Health Exchange, and
meet virtually, on a weekly basis to identify obstacles facing
their peers and communities, co-create solutions, and implement
these mechanisms to affect change.
Facilitated by PHE
Community Liaisons, the group currently in its second year, is
comprised of 16 young people. Joleen Wong, a member of CYA since
2022, shared her experience saying, “I wanted to address what I’ve
seen in my own community, and help create solutions alongside young
people across the nation.” Joleen worked on a CYA project last year
focused on women and birthing individuals’ health and reproductive
rights. Her initiative strategized to spread knowledge and debunk
related myths and assumptions by creating videos and engaging
content to publish on PHE social media channels. “Working on this
project taught me communication skills, confidence, and how to
highlight traditionally taboo (but important) topics through social
media marketing. It’s important that young people also evaluate the
work, since they know their peers and themselves
best.” The CYA group meets weekly to develop
a project, which, from brainstorming to implementation, takes about
one year. Community Liaison, Yaritsa Sanchez leads five young
people who are passionate about solutions to youth homelessness.
“We are partnering with organizations that work with youth who are
unhoused or navigating the foster care system to create a workshop
on using LinkedIn and other social media apps as tools to find job
opportunities. Also, in May, we will host a screening and
discussion of the documentary Lost in America, which chronicles
homelessness experienced by youth in the U.S.” Eduardo Ildefonso, a
Community Liaison based in New York, leads four young people
focused on higher education and marginalized people. “I support by
linking our members to leaders, resources, and opportunities to
spread the message about their project. It is very exciting to see
young people create change in their communities starting from a
simple idea,” he explained.
Pritika Kharkwal is
member of a CYA initiative working on a camp focused on social
media’s impact on youth mental health. She said, “We noticed the
gap in society when it came to digital media and its impact, pros
AND cons, on mental health.” The young people organized guest
speakers, mental health content, and an interactive Q&A
session. “The camp will reach various community members including
parents, teachers, educators and of course, youth! Youth are the
next generation, and we can only push for positive change in the
community if we are actively involved in building the future we
envision.” Pritika explained.
To join next year’s
cohort of the Community Youth Advocates, apply here. For more
information about Peer Health Exchange and its other youth
engagement work, please visit www.peerhealthexchange.org.
About Peer Health
Exchange
Peer Health Exchange’s
(PHE) mission is to build healthier communities with young people.
Together, we create education opportunities for peers to share the
tools and resources young people need to make healthy decisions.
With our partners, we advance health equity and improve health
outcomes for young people in under-resourced communities. For safe,
relatable, inclusive, and engaging content on mental health,
relationships, identity, and sexual health, follow Peer Health
Exchange on Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
- Community Youth Advocates Graphic
Haley Lloyd
Peer Health Exchange
3018255338
hlloyd@peerhealthexchange.org