ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH

American and European Youth Advocate for Reproductive Health and Rights of Young People

Fifty Youth Mobilize for First-Ever US - EU Youth Advocacy Summit in Brussels

WASHINGTON, DC (February 11, 2005)—Advocates for Youth's Vice President Debra Hauser today expressed pride and excitement in announcing the names of thirteen of the twenty-five youth who will represent the United States in the first-ever United States - European Union Youth Advocacy Summit on February 15-16, in Brussels, Belgium.

"We are very excited about the chance this summit provides for young people on both sides of the Atlantic to engage in meaningful dialogue and develop a plan of action in support of responsible approaches to maintaining the sexual health and rights of today's youth," said Hauser, who will accompany the young people to the Summit.

"These thirteen young people were chosen because they are exemplary leaders—in their hometowns and on their college campuses—and we are proud to have each one as an American representative for the Summit," Hauser concluded.

Traveling to Brussels to participate in the Summit are young people from across the country. Advocates for Youth is pleased to send:

Sarah, age 20; Bakersfield, California—Sarah is a junior at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service where she is studying culture and politics and justice and peace studies. She is committed to the sexual and reproductive health education of her peers and implementation of laws to help with that education. Sarah is a member of the International Youth Leadership Council at Advocates for Youth. In addition, she is the public relations chair for MEChA de Georgetown a Chicano political, cultural and social student organization. She dances in the Latin dance group "Ritmo y Sabor," and is a California state chair for Georgetown Admissions Ambassador Program. She is a member of the GU AIDS Coalition and the Georgetown pro-choice group H*yas for Choice.

Shawn, age 18; Phelps, New York—Shawn works as a peer educator on HIV/AIDS through the Red Cross STAR/FLYER. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Reality Check, a New York based anti-tobacco movement and has provided drug and alcohol prevention through Youth to Youth. Shawn plans on attending design school in New York City in fall 2004.

Adam, age 19; Spokane, Washington—Adam is a volunteer with Odyssey Youth Center, a Washington State group which works with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth between the ages of 14 and 24. He is also an active member of Advocates for Youth's My Voice Counts in Sex Education campaign.

Valencia, age 24; St. Louis, Missouri—Valencia is from Indiana, but currently lives in St. Louis. She is a student with Washington University in St. Louis, pursuing a Masters in social work. Valencia attends school full time and works part time with a mentoring agency in the St. Louis city public schools. She is also a member of Advocates for Youth's Young Women of Color Leadership Council, Valencia believes the council has provided her a strong foundation for the work she has been doing her goal of working with underrepresented populations that do not have adequate access to sexual health information. Valencia plans to establish a similar council in her local community.

Shajine, age 21; Brooklyn, New York—Originally from Jamaica, West Indies, Shajine is a member of the Young Women of Color Leadership Council at Advocates for Youth—which she credits for allowing her the opportunity to share experiences and participate in dialogue about issues concerning youth today. In an effort to continue the great work done by the Leadership Council, she has established a local Young Women of Color Council as an official student organization at The George Washington University, where she is a senior.

Kayley, age 22; Washington, DC—Kayley is an honors graduate of American University with a BA in Women's and Gender Studies. At AU she was a co-founding member of the campus chapter of Choice USA and an active member of the Women's Initiative. She has been involved with the International Youth Leadership Council at Advocates for Youth for three years, starting as a member and now as the coordinator. She is originally from California.

Mark, age 20; Ellicott City, Maryland—Originally from Australia, Mark is now a junior international relations major and international development minor at the University of Maryland. He works primarily on global AIDS and health care issues at his campus of 35,000 students, seeking to educate and mobilize fellow students. Mark is in his second year as a member of Advocates for Youth's International Youth Leadership Council. In his spare time, Mark enjoys the outdoors and rocking out on his guitar.

Sonya, age 21; Claremont, California—Sonya is a senior at American University in Washington, DC, where she majors in psychology. Sonya is a co-founding member of AU's chapter of Choice USA and is its current president, as well as a member of the Radical Cheerleaders in DC (RCDC). Sonya is also a second year member of the International Youth Leadership Council at Advocates for Youth.

Matthew, age 22; Boise, Idaho—Matthew is a student at Dartmouth College, a charter member of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy's youth leadership team, a former peer educator at Planned Parenthood of Idaho and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, one of Planned Parenthood's 2000 "International Youth Volunteers of the Year," and a former reporter for Teen People Magazine.

Beth, age 21; Kinderhood, New York—Beth is a senior at The George Washington University, majoring in International Affairs with a focus in Public Health. Beth has worked as a chapter leader and community organizer for the Student Global AIDS Campaign. Beth is also a second year member of the International Youth Leadership Council at Advocates for Youth.

Mai, age 24; Arlington, Virginia—Mai works for Williams Mullen Strategies, a political consulting firm in Washington, DC; has served as an active member of Advocates for Youth's International Youth Leadership Council; and is a recent graduate of The George Washington University in Washington DC.

Swati, age 20; Keyser, West Virginia—Swati is a junior at The George Washington University. She is a pre-med student with a strong interest in public health, both domestically and globally. She is an active member of the Student Global AIDS Campaign and the South Asian Society on campus. Last summer Swati volunteered with a developing organization, the Foundation of International Medical Relief for Children. Swati is also a second year member of the Advocates for Youth's International Youth Leadership Council.

Benjamin, age 18; Clifton Springs, New York—Ben has worked as a peer educator with the Red Cross STAR/FLYER program for the past three years, presenting on HIV, contraceptives, healthy lifestyles, and abstinence to health classes and youth conferences. Ben serves on the Board of Directors for Reality Check, a New York anti-tobacco movement. Ben represents the student council on the Board of Education and also serves on the Red Cross Youth Council.

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Advocates for Youth is an national, nonprofit organization that creates programs and supports policies that help young people make safe, responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

Note to Editors and Producers: For more information or to set up an interview with adolescent sexuality experts or the Youth Summit participants, please contact Bill Barker at (202) 419-3420.

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