Rockstar Awards 2022

Welcome to the Rockstar Awards for 2022

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Since 2011, Youth MOVE National has presented the Rockstar Awards to youth advocates, advocates for youth, and organizations who have made great strides in improving the lives of youth and youth-serving systems. We are ready to celebrate youth who are taking action across the nation with our 2021 awards. 

Check out previous Rockstar programs
2019 | 2020 | 2021

Join us for the 2022 RAVE (Rockstar Awards Virtual Edition)!

Watch the 2022 RAVE

Meet the 2022 Rockstars!

Kevin Puskaric
Gary M. Blau Professional of the Year

Kevin Puskaric (He, Him, His) CPS, CRS, CFRS became a Certified Peer Specialist in 2017 and then later certified in 2021 as a Certified Recovery Specialist and Certified Family Recovery Specialist. With his training and lived experience Kevin brings skills in leadership, youth engagement, and involving youth peer support values to his role as the Program Director for Youth MOVE Pennsylvania. Kevin serves as a voting member on the Childrens Committee of Mental Health Planning Council and is a co-chair of the Transitional Age Youth and Young Adult Advisory (TAYYA) Subcommittee as part of the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). Kevin is involved in many youth advocacy initiatives throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and believes amplifying youth voice has the impact to change lives.

Check Out Kevin’s Feature Here >>

Christina Breen
Marlene Matarese Advocate for Youth of the Year Award

Christina Breen (she/her) is a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Training Specialist working with Chautauqua County’s System of Care. Christina’s background is Community Development and Social Work, and has experience leading youth engagement efforts in many sectors. She holds many certifications in evidence based mental health and suicide prevention trainings and curriculums. She is a notable local and regional trainer, whose passion for inclusivity and help seeking comes through in every conversation. Christina’s navigation of mental health challenges as a youth and young adult shapes her compassion for young people and the need to bring their voices to strategic mental health planning. Christina enjoys gravel cycling, camping, time with family and friends, and adventuring with her son, Jack.

Check Out Christina’s Feature Here >>

Johanna Bergan
Marlene Matarese Advocate for Youth of the Year Award

Johanna Bergan (she/her) is a change leader working in systems transformation to effectively support young people navigating our country’s social systems. Johanna has fourteen years of experience advocating for important changes in youth serving systems and most recently served as the Executive Director at Youth MOVE National from 2015 to 2022. Her voice has been heard on several national platforms including advising technical assistance and research and training centers which support and promote the value of youth voice. Some of her most important professional experiences included serving the Youth MOVE National Board of Directors during the visioning process to create the Youth MOVE Chapter Network. Johanna intentionally provides ongoing support, coaching, and mentoring to emerging youth leaders and the leaders of youth driven organizations to further strengthen the national youth movement.

Check Out Johanna’s Feature Here >>

Stephanie Sikes-Jones
Tricialouise Gurley-Millard Youth Advocate of the Year Award

Stephanie Sikes-Jones (She/Her) is the TAYLRD State Level Youth Leadership Coordinator at the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID) and a young person with lived expertise. Prior to working with TAYLRD, Stephanie used her lived experience as a young person with PTSD & Bipolar disorder, as well as her experience in foster care to advocate for better services and supports for youth across the state & nation. In her current role, she helps other youth begin their own leadership journey and encourages partners to center the voices of youth and young adults in everything they do. Stephanie loves the work she does, because it allows her to work in partnership with a diverse and growing group of young people every day. The experiences and insights of this community of young leaders have made massive changes in her own life and in her state’s System of Care, and she hopes to keep pushing for their voices to be centered in every place where decisions are made that impact youth.

Check Out Stephanie’s Feature Here >>

Youth MOVE PA
Youth MOVE Chapter of the Year Award

Youth MOVE PA is a statewide youth & young adult advocacy organization dedicated to eliminating stigma surrounding mental health while promoting wellness and recovery for those seeking aid along their journey. 

Check Out Youth MOVE PA’s Feature Here >>

GSA Link
Organization of the Year Award

Founded by Melissa Clark and her son Ryan, GSA Link is a 501c(3) organization that aims to connect, empower, and inspire LGBTQ+ youth. With LGBTQ+ youth often being subject to violence, marginalization, alienation, and rejection from a variety of sources, including their family members, peers, teachers, strangers, and the media, community and mentorship is vital. With this in mind, Melissa and Ryan decided more needed to be done, and started GSA Link to become the link that connects, in an effort to help to support and inspire LGBTQ+ youth.

Check Out GSA Link’s Feature Here >>

Elliott Hinkle
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Equity

Elliott Orrin Hinkle (they/them) is a skilled consultant, facilitator, trainer, and advisor focused on elevating lived experience and expertise in systems that serve children, youth, and families. Elliott has lived experience in the Wyoming Foster Care System as a young person but calls Oregon home. 

Since August of 2019 they have been certified as a Traditional Health Worker, Youth Peer Support Specialist in the state of Oregon through the Oregon Health Authority. Most recently they served as a Lived Experience Advisory Board Member for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Equity Technical Assistance Center (ETAC). As a volunteer, Elliott serves as Board Secretary of Portland’s Bridging Voices LGBTQ+ youth chorus, the HOPE National Advisory Board and Family and Community Experts Council for HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences), and now, the Casper Pride Board of Directors! 

Check Out Elliott’s Feature Here >>