Youth MOVE National
BRAVE SUMMIT
Resources
Welcome BRAVE SUMMIT Youth!
We are excited to be sharing resources this year with everyone attending the BRAVE Summit!
Youth MOVE National works each and every day to highlight the amazing work that youth are doing all over the country in and out of systems! When we say systems, we mean mental health, education, juvenile justice, foster care, and other places where youth engage and participate. It is important to always make sure that youth are at the table and sharing their experience because you are all experts in your own lives. The BRAVE Summit is a fantastic opportunity to connect with other youth on issues that are important to you! Take advantage of the space and resources you have available to you, and keep sharing the real, authentic you with the world!
To contribute, we want to share some resources with you all that we think would be valuable; we hope that they can provide insight & inspiration for you to continue sharing your voice at the table and with the world!
Advocacy 101
What exactly is advocacy? When you use your voice to share your experience to make your life, your peers, and your community better, you are advocacing for change. This can look like many different things: sharing your experiences in focus groups, creating art projects in the community talking about stigma, creating a podcast, talking to your local government officials about issues you see; the world is wide open. This mini-course in advocacy can you get started on thinking about what advocacy means and what it can look like!
Radical Self-Care & Activism
This resource is from our virtual summit for youth on November 13th, 2021. Blair Imani joined us for a keynote conversation to offer knowledge, resources, and a heartfelt conversation.
With this resource, you will hear perspective on the experience of being a TED X presenter, understanding the unique meaning and importance of “radical self-care”. As well as learning about what inspired Blair Imani to create her own Youtube series “Smarter in Seconds”. Lastly, you will gain perspective on how to work through shame and vulnerability in activism and advocacy work.
Responding to Anti-Trans Legislation Measures Across the Country
At Youth MOVE National, Our mission is to enhance youth voice and choice across the nation. Last year, there were a handful of legislative measures that were being introduced that limit voice and choice of youth, especially in marginalized groups. Specific bills in places like Texas, Idaho, and Florida target LGBTQIA2S+ youth in a way that dehumanizes and takes away voice, power, and basic human rights. As a national organization that stands behind youth as a driving force to make systems and the world a better place, we want to share some spaces where youth can find resources to help youth and places for advocacy opportunities.
Audio Stories – Youth Taking Action
This miniseries (sponsored by the National Training and Technical Assistance Center and Youth MOVE National) is a project created to look at the important work that youth and young adults across the nation are doing in areas of mental health and other youth-serving systems. These podcast episodes can give a wonderful insight on what youth and youth advocates are accomplishing to make a positive change in our nation!
Some episodes we would like to highlight are: Youth-Driven Mental Health Advocacy & Engagement in Schools, Youth Experiences on Governing & Advisory Boards, Youth Making an Impact Through Civic Engagement, Youth Engaging in Anti-Racism, and Native American Youth Making Positive Change in Systems!
Peer Support
Leaning on each other and sharing experiences with each other is one of the most powerful ways that we can receive and give support. Did you know you can make a career out of it as well!? The following questionnaire shares more on how you can use lived experience as a pathway to help others and even make a career out of it!
Interested in Learning More About Peer Support?
Youth MOVE National has an entire Peer Center where we focus on training, workforce development, and sharing resources related to peer support. A few times a year, we offer our Young Adult Leadership Academy, a training program that guides participants through using their voice to think about a future in advocacy! We will also be sharing a youth training opportunity in March!
You can join the peer center mailing list and check out the website to learn more!
Youth Advocate-to-Advocate Guide
A growing youth movement across the country has developed a vast number of youth and young adult leaders who are passionate and experienced in sharing their stories to create positive systems change. Many strong youth groups and organizations, authentic youth/adult partnerships, federal grant programs, and research and training centers across the country support this movement. This guide shares ways to use your story as a resource for change!
Roles for Youth Advocates
What are some ways to get involved? There is no shortage of advocacy work that needs to be done to better systems for youth and young adults. This tip sheet shares some ways youth advocates can find spaces to engage in personal development and community change!
Strategic Sharing
Everyone has a story. Whether it’s for personal, educational, or advocacy purposes, strategic sharing is a valuable skill and resource. This tip sheet shares advice in which youth advocates can use their voice as a valuable learning opportunity for professionals in helping them to further their understanding and develop a realistic perspective. Youth who can constructively share their experiences, thoughts, and ideas born of their journey are an asset and key force in system change efforts.