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Advocates for Youth's Youth Activists, World AIDS Day
On December 1, 2004, MTV celebrated the outstanding work of youth activists in raising awareness on their college campuses and in their communities about HIV and AIDS. MTV flashed their pictures and bios to the world from a huge screen in New York City's Times Square. On this page are the pictures of Advocates for Youth's youth activists, as they appeared in Times Square. MORE >>

Adaku, Together We Can do Great Things
I grew up in Nigeria. In the midst of all its beauty also lay poverty, disease, death and injustice. Living in that environment and experiencing its people helped to foster my passion to help those in need. It is in fulfilling this passion that I gain happiness, because I learned that I cannot merely exist and occupy space in this world, but must spread love through serving others. MORE >>

Amber, If I Don’t Stand Up For Other Young Women Like Myself, Who Will Stand Up For Me!
I look forward to working with the Young Women of Color Leadership Council, in order to challenge myself to attain a greater level of skill. I am passionate about the work I do because it empowers other young women to understand the power of their minds, bodies and voices... MORE >>

Amelia, Getting "the Talk"
The How Babies Are Made picture book used paper cutout illustrations and simple, straightforward text to explain where baby plants, chicks, puppies, and human infants come from. I used to love the pictures of the adorable little puppies and chicks and even went through a phase where I requested How Babies Are Made for story time, every single night. Although sometimes my parents insisted on a little variety, most often they were more than happy to reread me the book. MORE >>

Andrew, I Want the World to Know that Young People are the Greatest Asset We Have Towards Making This World a Better Place
Activism is very moving. Hearing young people speak about their unfortunate experiences and what they'd really want to see changed brings tears of sadness, but seeing the difference you can make in their lives is rewarding. Just seeing the people I am advocating for happy makes me happy... MORE >>

Ashleigh, Addressing Women's Health Issues, Especially for Women of Color
Since starting college, I have noticed that women's health issues often go unaddressed, especially those for women of color. I feel that education can play a major part in correcting this inequality. I mean that we, as women of color, need to know about our rights to health care and about the health risks we face. MORE >>

Carmen, Educating Myself So That I Can Teach Others
For me, becoming an activist has been a journey, a process that I have recently embarked upon and am still undergoing. Throughout high school, and even until my freshman year of college, I was aware of this thing called the AIDS epidemic, but it was not until I became involved in the International Youth Leadership Council at Advocates for Youth that I learned just how severe its effects were domestically and globally. MORE >>

Cherrell, My Hopes are to Continue to Spread Awareness of Disease and Promote Social Change
I have spent the past 14 years of my life fighting the spread of HIV in my community. My fight against HIV/AIDS began when I realized that the person closest to me, my mother, was at high risk for contracting the virus and dying because she was an injection drug user. My fight against HIV/AIDS grew stronger when I learned that my mother and her friends were sharing needles to inject their drugs. At one time I believed that my battle with HIV/AIDS was over and I had won. MORE>>

Crystallee, We Will All Find Our Place in the World with the Help and Support of Each Other
My experiences in varied settings have helped to shape my perspective on life.I have compassion for all people and a passion to change things for the better. I pride myself on being a strong person and having the ability to share that strength with others. MORE >>

Danielle, Quiet Time is Definitely Over
Participating in Teens Against Pregnancy made a tremendous impact in my life, and I feel tremendously blessed that I was educated at an early age about the dangers of irresponsible sexual behavior. For me the question has been, “How can I be safe if I choose to engage in certain activities?” That’s all most kids want to know. How can someone deny them that kind of information? MORE >>

Deidre, If We Don’t Care About Our Rights, Then No One Else Will
I just don’t think it’s right for adults to make all the rules concerning my health, my rights, or my life. Simply put, who better to speak up on behalf of youth than other youth? If we don’t care about our rights, then no one else will. It makes no sense to complain about injustices if I don’t do anything about them. So as a youth activist, I use my voice to make a difference. MORE >>

E., When Youth are Given a Chance to Participate Constructively, We Can Achieve Great Things
My activist work began the day I came out to my parents. Five years ago, I sat my Mom down on my bed, walked into my closet and after a few moments of her asking “what are you doing, what are you trying to show me? Get out of the closet” – I jumped out of the closet with a sign on my chest saying “I’m coming out.” MORE >>

Erin, Long-Time Women's Rights Activist
During my second year of college, I became increasingly alarmed at these girls' lack of knowledge about sexuality and helped to start another organization on my campus called Sex Education Activists (SEA). For the past two years, SEA has concentrated on winning support for comprehensive sexuality education in Chicago public schools, and last year Chicago's Board of Education approved implementation of medically accurate, age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education curricula in all of their schools... MORE >>

Giovanna, I am Using My Knowledge and My Passion to Make a Change in My Community
Since HIV/AIDS is something that can be prevented, the question is “Well then… why isn’t it?” In our communities there is a severe lack of education surrounding HIV/AIDS: education that could help prevent the transmission of the virus, and decrease the rates of infection. After recognizing this, it was impossible for me to not do something about it. MORE >>

Haben, I Should Use My Voice to Benefit Those Who Don’t Have One
As a young Eritrean American female, I am extremely fortunate to not have been directly impacted by this disease, as it does target almost every demographic group that I fit in. I should use my voice to benefit those who don’t have one. Working through the International Youth Leadership Council at Advocates for Youth has given me the opportunity to do that on an international scale. There are too many people in this world who are forced to suffer through this epidemic in silence. I’ll never be able to speak for all of them, but I can always try...MORE >>

Jalan, Miseducation, Marginalization, and Misrepresentation are the Reality for Many Young Women of Color
I became interested in reproductive health issues while in high school. I saw such a huge need for accurate, reliable, and compassionate health education. The overcrowded health classes taught by our uninterested and/or unconcerned gym teachers did not do much to educate us. MORE >>

Jesse, Be Proud - You are Taking the Initiative to Question and Grow
My free nature is not the result of an all-inclusive environment. As an out lesbian in a small town I’ve seen it all, often from the receiving end – “you dirty dyke,” “you’ll burn in hell, ‘cause god hates queers.” I can admit I’ve met the floor and landings of stairwells more than my fair share. I’ve been spit on and called derogatory names, some making it to bathroom stalls.“If you weren’t so proud,” they tell me, “you wouldn’t deal with the harassment.” But iff I were not proud of my identity I would not want to change my piece of the world. MORE >>

Jessica, As Women of Color, We Are The Catalyst for Change in Our Communities
For me social justice is not just something you talk about in class but something that requires action. It means standing up for yourself as well as others who may be voiceless and ignored. During my college years, I became very involved in Immigrant rights and reproductive justice. My journey is far from over. I hope to continue advocating for women, immigrants, and communities of color through different avenues including health policy, grassroots organizing and, of course, attaining more educational opportunities in the health world. I want to be at the table when decisions about our health are being made. MORE >>

Julie, I Think That Young People are Pressured Into Putting Themselves in a Box
All too often, I think that young people are pressured into putting themselves in a box. There are so many ways to express yourself in and outside of relationships. I am working towards a Masters and eventually a PhD in Gender and Sexuality Studies. My focus is the false dichotomy of male and female in gay and lesbian relationships well as trans people's constructions of sex and gender. Again, too often people of all ages feel like they have to fit into a heteronormative model. To be a good man you have to be masculine or to be a good lesbian you have to be butch. Or you have to have one butch and one femme in a relationship. I am focused on breaking down those assumptions and barriers. MORE >>

J'Vawnna, Making Smart Decisions
I have a commitment to address young women’s reproductive health issues and the disparate rates of HIV infection among women of color. Through my previous experiences with working with other organizations that promote the awareness of HIV infection and advocate for reproductive health freedom, I feel I am prepared to carry out the work of the Young Women of Color Leadership Council (YWOCLC). MORE >>

Kathleen, I Will Make Change Not Only in My Community, But Other Communities As Well
I will stand out and be a role model for other women of color and let them know that they have the power and control over their body and sexuality, and they should be empowered to take action to keep themselves healthy. MORE >>

Krystle, Even a Seemingly Small Effort Can Have a Significant Impact
Aloha! My name is Krystle and I am a sophomore at Georgetown University. I was born and raised in Hawaii, in a very culturally vibrant environment. I love learning about new cultures and new languages. As I have learned about new cultures, I have become increasingly interested in the issues facing young people in developing countries...MORE >>

Lanine, STIs Are Serious Business and Everybody Ought to Know How to Protect Themselves
Simple curiosity sparked my interest in health issues and HIV and AIDS prevention. But once I started speaking to kids about the spread of STIs and about other health issues, I realized that STIs were serious business and that everybody ought to know how to protect themselves. Working with the issues of HIV and AIDS has made me more sensitive and understanding to anyone affected by the epidemic. MORE >>

Lauren, I feel Very Passionate About Being a Youth Activist
What really got me interested in the Youth Activists Network are my strong feelings about comprehensive sex ed being taught in schools. As a member of the queer community I felt frustrated by the lack of visibility and information afforded to queer people in a typical high school sex ed class. I feel very passionate about being a Youth Activist and am looking forward to all of the advocacy events over the next year to make the REAL Act a law. MORE >>

Lauren, All Social Justice Issues are Inherently Connected, From GLBTQ Issues to Immigrants and Workers Rights
In high school, I had always considered myself an ally, although I felt confused about my own sexuality. Because I had the support and open-mindedness of my friends and colleagues, I was able to confront my questions of bisexuality clearly and calmly by the time I came to college. I understand how important it is to have the support of people around you. MORE >>

Lesley, Depriving Young People of Information About Sexuality is Reckless and Irresponsible
Since moving to the United States, I have continued my activism through with the Community of Aids Activists Fighting for Equal Justice (C.A.A.F.E.), the Caribbean Students Association (CSA), and the B.U.I.L.D. Mentorship Program at the local elementary school Bruce Monroe. Outside of life at school, I volunteer in the Bethlehem Rebounders Program for the Lighthouse Ministries. I also volunteer for the Planned Parenthood of the Metropolitan Washington Area, educating young people about sexually transmitted infections (STI's) and safe sex... MORE >>

Madina, Doing This Work is Not a Matter of Choice. It is a Matter of Duty and Social Responsibility
Born in Martinique, I grew up in England and Haiti before moving to D.C. at the age of six. In 2005, I graduated from Brown University with a degree in Gender Studies and Community Health. I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health. I am particularly interested in promoting the health and social, economic, and political well-being of women of color in the United States, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa. MORE >>

Marika, I Think it is Very Important for Teens to Have Helpful Information at Their Fingertips
I'm interested in YouthResource, because helping queer youth is a very important issue to me. When I first started thinking about my sexuality, I didn't know where to look for answers. Those months that I spent searching were very dark and destructive for me. If I could help teens who have been or currently are in this current situation, it would make me feel that all the pain I went through was worthwhile. MORE >>

Maya, We Need to Take Care of Ourselves and Each Other
I’m interested in issues that affect me and my peers. Positive roles models—like my mother, relatives, and extended family members—often stress the importance of participating in community activities. My mother is a health care professional, and I’ve benefited from her knowledge and experiences as well as from her professional and personal friendships. I’d like to help other young women of color with sexual and reproductive health issues, especially preventing HIV. We need to take care of ourselves and each other. MORE >>

Megan, We Are All Youth, Here to Help Empower Other Youth
As the daughter of a teen mother, I am passionate about the issues that surround teen pregnancy. I am also interested in challenges that people of mixed heritage face, topics of women’s empowerment, and current events in global and domestic health. When I am not at home or at school, you will find me traveling and studying in places around the world. I have been blessed with many opportunities to learn about others’ cultures and experiences. MORE >>

Michael, My Passion is GLBT Rights
When I was first coming out, I emailed a peer counselor at Youth Resource. He really helped me to deal with issues with my mom. I was lucky enough to be blessed with accepting parents. When I first came out, they weren't hostile. They just were ignorant about gay issues. I know personally how beneficial simply talking to another gay teenager can be. When I emailed YR, I was depressed and felt like the only "freak" out there. Now I've come so far. MORE >>

Nick, I wholeheartedly believe that talking with people and building a support network is important to maintaining a healthy mind and life
Being a self-identified gay male living in the South has not exactly been a walk in the park. The small town where I grew up was not very accepting of LGBTQ citizens and I was closeted for quite a while. It was not until I went away to college, in a more liberal setting, that I finally came out. I learned a lot about myself during the coming-out process and became more confident in the person I am today. This led to my involvement with Youth Resource. MORE >>

Nickie, We Have the Power to Effect Change!
Even in the era of AIDS, governments believe they have the right to control our bodies and withhold basic human rights. The only way to do stop this is to fight for what you believe in. This is why I joined the IYLC. The IYLC has given a chance to be better informed and to become an effective advocate, spokesperson, and youth educator on issues concerning adolescent sexual and reproductive health. I believe that it is the duty and responsibility of all young people to help shape the world into a place we want our children and grandchildren to live in...MORE >>

Nicole, We Must Acknowledge That We Are Not Invincible and We Must Educate Ourselves and Others
My goal is to do whatever I can to help raise personal and social awareness of HIV and AIDS among my peers and younger people to advocate for our access to information and skills to prevent HIV infection. We as young people sometimes believe that we are invincible. We get caught up in activities that can endanger our lives and the lives of others, naively believing that nothing bad can happen to us. MORE >>

Omega, The Importance of Leading Healthy and Productive Lives
I have been working in the sexual health field for almost five years, and I enjoy every minute of it—from giving presentations about the connection of self-image to sexual behavior to sitting down with my fellow "Sistahs" to plan how to improve Advocates For Youth! Working in my community has taught me how important it is that young people have the resources and knowledge they need to lead healthy and productive lives. MORE >>

Patrice, It is My Life’s Mission to Educate People About Prevention and Accurate Information
When I was growing up, I found it very difficult to ask my mother questions about personal issues. I was dealing with everything from sexual health issues to eating disorders to sexual identity. Talking about sexual health and sexuality was very taboo in my household. In fact, these topics and many more seem to be very taboo within the African American community in general, so it was even harder to find the answers that I needed. MORE >>

Rachel, I Have Found My Cause
I studied in South Africa and Ghana and traveled to eight other African nations, learning about the awful impact AIDS has had in these countries. I spent four months as an HIV/AIDS and STI peer educator in Ghana, which only increased my desire to do more about the pandemic. Now I believe that as a citizen of the United States and of the world it is my job to ensure that our lawmakers and students are aware of the faces behind the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. More importantly, I want to push them to help.… MORE>>

Rebecca, It's Time For a Change
I believe that there is no more important issue facing our communities--gender, ethnic, and racial or local, regional, and national—than HIV/AIDS. The spread of HIV among women of color is closely tied to the challenges we face in many other areas—education, politics, and health, most prominently—and relates to information, engagement, representation, activism, and empowerment. MORE>>

Rebecca, Will We Utilize the Power?
We all come from our own places. My place just happened to be what was dealt to me. I grew up in a non-diverse environment where my culture was repressed rather than nurtured. Only through my own journey through my teenage years and now through my young adult years, have I gained my own perspective on who I am and who I am becoming. My journey was tough, with the climax of my youth being drug addiction, but I made it through it all to become the person I am today. More >>

Shana, It is My Lifelong Work
Many of the students that attended my high school needed help with making wise decisions about their health issues or had family or friends that were affected with STIs such as HIV. I knew that I could make an impact in their lives by educating them and working to make sure that they had the best peer sexual health education program available to them. MORE >>

Shelby, A Spokesperson Against the Odds
In Lubbock, Texas, a pastor teaches sex education in the schools. In Lubbock, we have the highest rates of STIs in the state of Texas. And in Lubbock, I have become one of the few voices opposed to the scare tactics imposed on young people as "sex education."  I began my activism at age 13, when a girl in my math class was forced to move to an alternative school because she was pregnant. Her boyfriend had told her she couldn't get pregnant her first time, and the school nurse had told her to ask her parents if that was true … MORE >>

Sierra, I Am Determined to Live For Something
My goals and hope in life is to continue to be an activist and to continue to learn about health issues so I am able to help those individuals who ate often overlooked and hot heard. My vision is to bring awareness to youth, minorities, and women of color about the issue that seem to plague many of these communities. I am determined to live for something. MORE >>

Taryn, I Like Helping People and Being An Ally
I'm an SGI Buddhist and I tend to talk to a lot of people that are in the GLBTQ Community because of it. I am straight but don't look at that as a way of me not being able to help you. I've helped a lot of my friends through situations with parents and friends. MORE >>

Terica, I Choose to Aim High
I partly agree that people and children are a product of their environment. However, I wholeheartedly agree that each individual determines her final destination. Too often in our life we allow our stepping stones to become our stumbling blocks…and we loose sight of our own goals, aspirations, and dreams in the process. I choose to aim high, for success and gain every joyous aspect of life that I deserve. MORE >>

Theodora, I Have always Wanted to Balance Responsibilities With All of My Beautiful Self
But that's the boring part, not the queer part. I came out as a lesbian when I was fourteen and proceeded to try and tell my entire town in ways that were both safe and unsafe. I've never really known for sure what I am in terms of sexual orientation, so I've stopped labeling myself, but I totally respect and understand both the need for people to have labels and the lack of rights that queer people have. So in that sense, I'm queer, "but I do like St. Teresa of Avila." I've also struggled with gender identity and believe that although I am not born in the wrong body, I am male, not female. MORE >>

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