UpStreet Youth Advisory Board
Shaping and strengthening our teen mental wellness programs!
What is UpStreet’s Youth Advisory Board?
UpStreet’s Youth Advisory Board empowers youth ages 12-22 to shape and strengthen our teen mental wellness programming through outreach, education, and event planning. Youth Advisory Board participants serve a one-year term, working collaboratively with their peers and our staff to ensure that UpStreet continues to reflect the needs of the youth it serves.
Why does UpStreet need a Youth Advisory Board?
UpStreet is for teens and young adults. Teen and young adult voices and experiences are essential to both the development and continued programming of UpStreet. We want to empower young people to advocate for themselves and their peers on issues related to mental wellness.
What do our Youth Advisory Board members do?
-
Attend one YAB meeting each month
-
Attend one outreach, drop-in space, or programs committee meeting each month
-
Help develop outreach and social media content
-
Represent UpStreet at community events
-
Advocate and build awareness of youth mental health in the Pittsburgh community
-
Collaborate on the design and appearance of UpStreet
-
Help plan special events and programs related to mental wellness
Who’s on the Youth Advisory Board, and why is teen mental health important to them?
Amani J. (she/her)
“Teen mental health is so important because we are going to be the next adults for this world, and I feel like if our generation is depressed and sad this world would be sad. I feel like teens go through sooo much alone because they have parents that don’t care or hurt them if they show they are depressed. So that’s why I wanna help. I want to be part of YAB because [UpStreet] is a great organization.”
Angely C. R. (she/her)
“I think teen mental health is important because sometimes we don’t really understand what is going on and it can get to a point where we make the wrong choices. I wanna join YAB because I think that advocating for teen mental health is important. It’s important to understand ourselves and be better people for ourselves.”
Ellie H. (she/her)
“Mental health is important to me because I’ve struggled for a very long time, and it took a lot of hard work to get better. I want to make a difference and help other people.”
Emily K. (she/her)
“I decided to join the YAB to interact with other teens who also had a passion for mental health. And I think it’s important for teens to have an outlet to feel safe to talk about their mental health.”
Hongyu D. (he/him)
“What I want is to celebrate individuality, praise expression, and embrace everyone. The most important reason I came to YAB is because I’ve been in the rain myself, so I wanted to hold an umbrella for someone else.”
Lexie T. (she/her)
“I care about mental health due to it hitting close to home. I joined the advisory board so that I could have more of an official role in helping combat the stigma associated with mental health.”
Maggie D. (she/her)
“I joined the Youth Advisory Board to meet other teens who also want to make a positive change surrounding teen mental health in the community.”
Mason P. (he/him)
“I joined the Youth Advisory Board because mental health has impacted my life in a variety of ways. Now that I have the strength to help others I want to offer my assistance to those who may need it.”
Shane O. (she/her)
“I joined the YAB because I wanted to make this place better. Teen mental health is important to me because being a teen is hard and we all need a place to have✨️”
