The Pacific Southwest MHTTC is pleased to announce the National Cohort of the Youth Advocate Leadership Academy (YALA), a training for youth and young adults seeking to build their own leadership skills to create positive change in the mental health field and world around them.
This no-cost opportunity includes a copy of PS MHTTC/Youth MOVE’s leadership curriculum and four online training sessions, designed to create a peer-led environment that builds off each participant’s current skills. We blend experiential learning with peer facilitated group discussions and activities. All youth and young adults (YYA) ages 14 – 29 who are passionate about mental health, and who identify as having lived experience in a youth-serving system, are encouraged to apply.
This third Cohort within the YALA series is designed to serve YYA who work and reside all throughout the United States and U.S. territories.
YYA who may be interested in working as a youth peer provider in the future, or who are currently serving as a youth peer, would be a great fit for this training opportunity.
All sessions will take place from 11:00AM – 3:00PM PT.
Monday, 07/11/22
11:00AM – 3:00PM PT
Tuesday, 07/12/22
11:00AM – 3:00PM PT
Monday, 07/18/22
11:00AM – 3:00PM PT
Tuesday, 07/19/22
11:00AM – 3:00PM PT
Te Jay McGrath, Youth Program Specialist, Youth MOVE National
Te Jay brings many years of professional and lived experience to the Youth MOVE team. Not only has he directly served and supported many types of young adults, especially those experiencing homelessness, he has worked on policy changes when it comes to LGBTQ+ initiatives, anti-bullying efforts, and public health inequities. Te Jay has been performing all around southern California as his drag persona, Tia Wanna, for over 9 years. Originally from Hawaii, Te Jay is a Korean American who now resides in Los Angeles, which he has called home for over a decade.
Lydia Proulx, Youth Program Coordinator, Youth MOVE National
Lydia’s own lived experience with mental health, school, and youth leadership drives their dedication to authentic youth engagement, advocacy, and education. They’re excited about improving the service delivery model for LGBTQIA2-S youth on a national scale. As the former youth program manager at Youth MOVE Massachusetts and Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PPAL), they led the development of youth peer support groups, youth trainings and speaking engagements, and the internship program. In their spare time, Lydia volunteers on a local farm for hunger relief and teaches comprehensive sexual health education to youth and young adults. Plus, they love antiquing on the weekends.
If you are interested in joining a FREE YALA training, please complete the Interest Form. The Interest Form will ask about your availability to attend the above training options. A waitlist will be developed should the trainings fill and YMN will notify applicants of future training sessions as they are scheduled.
For more information, or to participate in the Youth Advocate Leadership Academy, please complete the participant information form or send an email to [email protected].
