We are so happy to introduce you to part 1 of the wonderful group of Youth Advisors we have assembled here at UpStreet!

The Youth Advisory Board is a team of leaders recognized for their dedication to youth leadership, youth mental wellness, diversity, and accessible mental health care for all.

They each bring valuable youth perspectives to UpStreet’s work.

If you would like to join the team, email us at info@upstreetpgh.org and tell us about yourself and why you’d like to be apart of something great!

(in no particular order)

My name is Erin and I am a Junior at Taylor Allderdice High School. I enjoy volunteering in my Jewish community and giving back to what has given me so much! I am passionate about multiple social issues ranging from bridging the gap between senior citizens and teens, prioritizing the connection between children with special needs and high school students, and making sure all teens have access to affordable therapy services. My leadership experiences vary from being the founder of S.P.I.R.I.T, President of Pittsburgh Cares Youth Advisory Council, member of the Friendship Circle Junior Board, member of UpStreet Advisory Council, Youth Ambassador for AMIGOS, PeerCorps participant for Repair the World, member of the J-Serve Board and a Global Minds participant. While working with Upstreet, I have learned about the importance of teamwork and how to be a leader through online platforms. Teen mental health is very important to me because having a place to talk about your emotions can relieve stress and can help you be a better version of yourself. People should be able to have a safe place to talk with no judgement and Upstreet is a resource that can help so many!

My name is Katrice and I’m a first year student at The Ohio State University where I’m majoring in Psychology. In my free time I like spending time with my family and friends, watching TV, traveling, learning and reading. I believe in the goal of UpStreet and I want to make a difference in the community. I had never heard of anything like UpStreet. I believe it is so special and will impact not only the Squirrel Hill community, but communities throughout the City of Pittsburgh. Mental health is important katrice it influences your perspective on yourself, other people, and the world around you. It is a major part of everyone’s life whether they choose to acknowledge it or not. Acknowledging and workin on mental health is imperative because it leads to a better understanding of yourself and how you can grow as a person.  

Hi! My name is Sammie, and I am a senior at Upper St. Clair High School. I love hanging out with my family and friends, spending time outdoors, travelling, and watching Netflix. I am so excited to be a part of the UpStreet Youth Advisory Board this year because I am passionate about UpStreet’s mission to provide accessible services to anyone in need of therapy or who is just having a bad day. Teen mental wellness is so important, especially in our current climate. So many of us feel the daily pressures to perform well in school and extracurricular activities and to impress others, particularly on social media. I appreciate UpStreet’s mission to combat these pressures and provide teens with the opportunity to get help from those who truly care.

My name is Bridget and I’m a first-year student at Barnard College, planning to study philosophy and urban studies. I enjoy reading, biking, tennis, and playing my flute. I joined the UpStreet Youth Advisory Board because there are pervasive unjust disparities in mental health, and UpStreet addresses them by expanding access to mental health services. Mental health is a part of health, and everyone deserves access to quality mental health services.

My name is Maia, and I am a junior at Allderdice. I like to cook, read, and do art, as well as spending time with people who make me happy. The upstreet youth advisory board interested me because I think that mental health is stigmatized too much, and that often when adults want to help teenagers with their mental health, it often feels detached. I think mental health is important, especially for teenagers, because our society has way too many expectations for teens, and it can often feel overwhelming.

I’m Mikayla Tieppo and I’m in 10th grade at North Allegheny. I’m on the swim team and a part of the Best Buddies program. I wanted to be a part of the Upstreet Youth Advisory Board because I love that they are making it easier for teens that are scared to reach out. I believe every single person needs someone to talk to at some point in their life, our teen years especially. They are some of the most important and difficult times in our lives and help shouldn’t be a taboo thing. I wanted to help make Upstreet perfect for their audience so teens will want to reach out and get help, be happy, and grow into a person they will be proud of.