Unspoken Truths: Being a Young Person in Advocacy Spaces
Mental Health America's 2022-2023 Young Leaders Council recently released their annual report, "Challenging, Sustaining, and Evolving: An Anthology on Youth Mental Health Advocacy (and Hope)." This anthology is a reflection on the complexities that young people are confronted with in the world of mental health activism, as told firsthand by members of MHA's YLC. Join us to learn what it means to be a young person in advocacy spaces and the truths that often go unspoken – the victories, defeats, hope, adversity, and everything in between.
During this 60-minute webinar you will:
- Hear from individuals about their experiences as youth leaders in advocacy spaces and the challenges and unmet needs they still face
- Understand how adult allies in advocacy spaces can better affirm and empower the young people they work with
- Learn more about the youth co-design process behind the report, including insights that can inform other youth-led projects
Meet the Speakers
Jose Caballero's (he/him) passion for multicultural intersectionality and enriching mental health journeys for first-generation students gives him a unique point of view and a powerful voice leading the way for a new generation of advocates. Acknowledged by esteemed figures such as Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey and CVS President of Behavioral Health and Well-being Cara McNulty, Jose Caballero’s lived experience is the guiding compass of his advocacy. His efforts and dedication have been recognized by the Miami Herald, applauded by The Jed Foundation, and seen on ABC News.
Savannah Frye (she/her) is the Regional Coordinator for Peer Recovery Specialists and Family Support Partners within the Northern Virginia area. She previously worked as a peer recovery specialist with a local nonprofit. In her current role, she has had the opportunity to expand her peer support work at a regional level and advocate for positions for those with lived experience within the behavioral health system.
Jill King (she/her) is a disabled advocate and co-founded her university's first disability advocacy group, Students with Disabilities Advocacy Group, run by and for the disabled. The group works with advocacy groups throughout the state of Georgia, provides training on the Americans with Disabilities Act to staff and faculty, and participates in panels to educate faculty, staff, and others in the campus community. In addition to her work with the Students with Disabilities Advocacy Group, Jill researches psychology within the disabled population's well-being along with minority stress.