Every young person has the capacity to lead, and many youth and young adults are passionate and experienced in sharing their stories to create change. One important aspect of youth advocacy is transition, both from the child to adult system and from the role of youth advocate to that of advocate for youth. This month's session will explore how our individual advocacy and leadership journeys have shaped us and how to support young people in their development as youth advocates.
These monthly forums are an opportunity to connect with others who share a passion for developmentally appropriate and appealing supports for youth and young adults. Maybe you're a peer support provider or a new professional with lived experience working in mental health advocacy. Whatever your role, if you are a young adult professional seeking to make peer-to-peer connections and develop your professional capacity, this learning community offers a space to learn with other mental health workforce professionals.
We hope you will join us for collective skill-building, engaging conversations, and networking with other young professionals.
This learning community is designed for young professionals working with youth and young adults of transition age.
Joshua's journey began with Youth MOVE Miami. He had gone the first time to simply attend a Salsa dance class. It was through the arts that Joshua became connected with himself and his peers. From there, he slowly got out of his shell and learned about the Youth Movement. It was there that he found his voice and learned to use it. He slowly became a leader who used his lived experience to advocate for local, even state, policy surrounding systems of care. It was through his passion and dedication that he became a national leader speaking at conferences and affecting change all over the country. His hope is that youth can become leaders just like he has become. He also hopes to give to others what Youth MOVE gave to him: a voice and a message to spread. On his off-time Joshua loves to travel and eat new foods!
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 also 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.
