YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD
Our Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is composed of a diverse network of teens and
young adults who weigh in on how our youth led organization is run and helps us
ensure that our work consistently centers and amplifies youth voices nationally. They
are passionate changemakers who together spread and fuel our work ensuring we stay
authentic to our mission and bring the voice of this generation to the forefront.
YAB members also have the opportunity for additional involvement in specific areas of
the organization by joining our youth-run: Social Media Committee, Website Committee, and Outreach Committee.
Requirements:
● Attend and actively participate in virtual monthly meetings (30-60 minutes)
● Be an ambassador for T4TH by sharing our site on social media and in your local community
● Review new content for the site and offer feedback
● Regularly communicate with T4TH staff and fellow YAB members via email/text
● Adhere to T4TH’s commitment to kindness in all that we do
Benefits:
● Gain leadership tools that include planning, facilitating, public speaking,
communication skills, program planning, evaluation, and group decision-making.
● Regular opportunities to interview mental health professionals on YAB-chosen
topics
● Opportunities to create digital content for our website and social media
● Be part of a national network of young people passionate about transforming their communities while advocating for meaningful social change.
Join our YOUTH ADVISORY BOARd
Prajna Arun
Hey there - I'm Prajna and I'm passionate about mental health awareness for teens and young adults. At teens4teenshelp, whether through storytelling or music, I want to share my experiences and encourage others to do as well, so we may never feel alone, no matter how hard the journey is.
Christian Cerna
My name is Christian and by being a Youth Board member, I hope I can play a role in helping teens with their mental health issues by providing them the resources they need.
Johana Cruz (She/Her)
Hi! My name is Johanna. I am 16 and currently doing full-time dual enrollment at Florida Gulf Coast University! I am planning to major in psychology and become some sort of psychologist! I am from Naples, Florida and currently in color guard at my high school!
Zarah Gonzalez (She/Her)
My name is Zarah Gonzalez and I am a passionate 16-year-old of Downey, California and an advocate for teen mental health and community support. I have co-founded a club at my school focused on helping children in the foster care system, drawing on my unique insights that come from having a special needs brother. My dedication and empathy make me a strong voice for mental health awareness among young people.
Tanishka J.
Hi, I'm Tanishka! I joined this youth board to break down stigmas surrounding mental health and to educate others on these important issues. I'm also dedicated to raising awareness about body positivity, helping people feel more confident and empowered in their own skin.
Ava Herlinger (She/Her)
I joined this organization to learn more about how to help others by guiding them through their various mental challenges using specific resources (like videos). While doing that, I have also been learning more and more about myself and what I need from others to feel more comfortable and seen everyday.
Chloe Kelenski (She/Her)
Hi, I’m Chloe! I am passionate for spreading awareness for teens mental health and spreading positivity.
Layla Lindsey She/Her
Hi! I’m Layla Lindsey and I’m a junior in high school and freshman in college, and I enjoy writing and learning about issues such as mental health. I hope to learn as much as I can and bring awareness to these issues, and hopefully help others know that they’re not alone and don’t have to be. I’m so excited to be apart of this organization!
Nolan Long (He/Him)
I'm Nolan, I am on the board because I want to help make the organization as suitable for teens as possible, with the goal of getting as many individuals who need help to find it.
Karen Ng (She/Her)
Hi, I'm Karen! I'm currently a Sophomore in High School. I've always felt passionate about spreading awareness of mental health in today's generation. I've had my share of experiences with mental health which is why the mission statement with this organization is something that I genuinely believe in. I'm excited to be working with all the other Youth Board Members to spread the word and I've worked with numerous other organizations supporting mental health for people like Veterans and Cancer patients. I hope to help guide the Youth to be able to reach out for help when they need it along with helping myself learn that it's okay to struggle. I play volleyball in my freetime and I love baking, traveling with my family, and shopping!
Hi! I am a junior in high school and have recently joined Teens4Teens! I am very passionate about mental health and sharing things that have helped me cope with some problems I've had with mental health in the past. I am so excited to share some of my ideas with you through videos, presentations near me in my community, and some of my resources!
Kaya Robertson
Yeshwi Sharma
Hi my name is Yeshwi Sharma and I want to join the youth advisory board for mental health because I believe everyone deserves support and resources for their well-being. After facing my own mental health challenges, I’m motivated to help others navigate similar experiences. I hope to work with others to create positive change in our community!
Hey, I'm Ike and by being a youth board member I hope to provide a safe space for other teens. Whether it is advising on how to cope with the stresses of high school or lending an ear in our organization's virtual Zoom meetings, any way I can improve the mental health of others is of great importance to me.
Ike Ugwa
Tyler Smith
Hi, I’m Tyler, a youth advisory board member. I joined Teens4teens because of my experience seeing the importance of a support system in battling mental health issues. My goal is to do everything I can to help spread awareness about and lessen the stigma surrounding struggles with mental health.
Emily W (She/Her)
Hi, my name is Emily and I am a current Junior in high school! I am passionate about learning and spreading awareness about teens mental health, and I am so excited to join the YB!
Julia Pedri (She/Her)
Hi everyone, I'm Julia! My interest in mental health is deeply personal and I want to share my story in the hopes of inspiring others. I am passionate about destigmatizing mental health and mental illness because I know how isolating and overwhelming it can feel when you're struggling in silence. My utmost priority is to provide support to the community that rescued me from the depths of despair and inspire children like myself to create a future in which they can flourish -- regardless of their past!
Inah Bingham (She/Her)
Hello! I'm Inah! I am passionate about mental health because I understand what it’s like to experience the ups and downs it can bring, often feeling as though no one truly understands. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help others navigate their mental health journeys and provide support when they need it most.
Tess Chan (She/Her)
As a member of the youth advisory board, I hope to spread advocacy and increase representation for teenage mental health. I also want to work towards creating an uplifting community that alleviates some of the mental burden that teens are challenged by.
Gabbi Diaz (She/Her)
Hi! I'm Gabbi, and I'm super excited to be a part of this organization. Ever since I was little, I've always loved helping people. Taking every possible step to ensure someone feels okay is something I want to be involved in. Through Teens4Teens Help, I hope to spread the message about the importance of mental health and to encourage conversations about it. I want to emphasize the importance of your story and that it shouldn't be something you are ever ashamed of. I know in my heart that I can, along with the support of everyone at Teens4Teens Help, will make a difference.
Ella Homesley
Hi, I'm Ella, helping people has always been a passion of mine. I understand what it is like to be in a place where you feel like no one knows what you are experiencing and that you can’t ask for help. What I have learned is that there are many people and resources to provide assistance, such as Teens4TeensHelp. I am here to shine light on the importance of mental health, and hopefully make a difference in someone’s life.
Molly Gurrola
Hi, I'm Molly! I am a very passionate advocate for mental health and my biggest goal is to help others, specifically youth struggling with mental health challenges. I have had my own experiences with mental health, so this is a cause I hold very close to my heart. I've worked with many different organizations to help raise awareness on mental health and support those dealing with it, but outside of my advocacy, I am a cheerleader, and I love to do art and hang out with my loved ones!
Alissa Jones
My name is Alissa, Having my own struggles and feeling really alone made me want to step up and speak out about my story and help anyone I can even if that means just bringing awareness to different mental health topics. I hope that I can make a difference in someone's life and help everyone see that mental health is not something to be ashamed of.
Minaal Khan
I’m Minaal, I am excited to be a part of this team because I love helping people and I want to spread as much awareness as I can to help people!
Youlan Li (She/Her)
Hi there! My name is Youlan, and I’ve always been fascinated by the brain and its profound connection to mental health. As a Youth Advisory Board Member, I’m passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and creating a space where everyone feels safe to share their stories. Together, we can foster understanding, inspire conversations, and build a more supportive world.
Uzma Makhdoom
Hi, my name is Uzi! I'm 21, a college junior, and an international and national mental health advocate. I am also an anti-bullying advocate and love helping people. In my free time, I love to swim and spend time with my pets, family, friends, and other advocates.
Flora Park
Hi! My name is Flora and my goal at Teens4TeensHelp is to help those struggling around me and increase awareness of mental health challenges in my community.
Rohan Satija
Hi, I'm Rohan and I'm a passionate youth mental health advocate, particularly for its intersections with storytelling and creativity. With Teens4TeensHelp, I want to normalize conversations surrounding mental health and reduce the stigma.
Sophie Shore (They/Them)
Hi, I’m Sophie! I have a passion for mental health. I am especially interested in the crossover between mental health and chronic illness and hope to eventually work as a Child Life Specialist to cross these two passions and help people while doing so.
Pauline Tran (She/Her)
My name is Pauline Tran, Mental health is so important to me as it affects so many young people today. One of my goals is to reach many teens and adolescents and help them understand their emotions as well as have a support system. I look forward to my involvement in this mental health board so I can connect with and help more people :)
Andres Valle He/They
Hey everyone! I'm Andres (he/they), a passionate youth mental health advocate dedicated to normalizing conversations and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. Through Teens4TeensHelp, I hope to create a supportive space where young people feel empowered to share their stories and seek help.
Neziah Greene (She/Her)
Hello, my name is Neziah! I am a nursing student passionate about promoting health and well-being in my community. I am actively involved in initiatives that focus on health education and supporting those in need. My goal is to use my skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
Samuela Zannou
Hello! My name is Samuela Zannou, I love listening to music, reading books, and sleeping. I love volunteering in my community, and I hope to make an impact in peoples lives In the future.
Evan Carmello (He/Him)
Hello! I'm excited to join T4TH and contribute to promoting teen mental health. I look forward to supporting initiatives and making a positive impact through my involvement.
Sophie Chen
Hi! I'm Sophie, As a youth board member, I hope to work towards destigmatizing the conversation surrounding mental health and creating a more supportive environment!
Savannah Frankenbach
Hi, my name is Savannah Frankenbach and I am a senior from Southampton, NY. I have my own experience with bad mental health which makes me all the more passionate towards T4TH and helping to erase stigma. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, and volunteering!
Lexi Haas (She/Her)
Hi, I’m Lexi Haas! I live in upstate NY and I’m a rising sophomore in high school. I’m passionate about advocating for mental health and increasing the amount of mental health resources available, especially for teens. Outside of this organization, I am a club volleyball player, a member of YMCA youth and government leadership, a volunteer at Olana State Historic Site, my class president, and more.
Hi, I’m Emily! I am passionate about helping others and uplifting my community. I hope to break the stigma surrounding mental health struggles and empower my peers through advocacy.
Emily Hsia (She/Her)
I’m Srileka, As a youth board member, my goal is to make sure people realize they aren’t alone. I joined as a youth member to share my experiences and make my voice heard. Through Teens4TeensHelp, I’m dedicated to promoting destigmatizing discussions about mental health and other issues.
Srileka Karthikeyan (She/Her)
Kamryn Koon
Hi, I'm Kamryn! I am so excited to be a part of this amazing group of teens! I can’t wait to help others through their mental health journey! I hope to make a positive impact on the world with mental health awareness!
Kara Long
I'm Kara, I know the power of sharing your story and am happy to be a part of this project.
Aditi Podduturi
Hi I’m Aditi! I’m a junior in high school from Bucks County, PA. I’m extremely excited to be a part of TFTH because I’m passionate about de-stigmatizing and raising awareness for mental health issues and educating more people on these topics!
Zion Namugenyi (She/Her)
Hi, my name is Zion! I'm from Boston, Massachusetts and mental health awareness I believe that mental health awareness is important. I'm excited to be part of this team and hope to make a difference by supporting other teens.
Kayla Shaw
Navigating mental health can be difficult, especially if you are seeking help independently. Through my own journey, I recognize the importance of self-worth and self-identity. I regret not extending more grace to myself during those times. Now, as an advocate for mental health through Teens4TeensHelp, I am inspired to empower others, providing a supportive platform for individuals to speak up and access the assistance they need.
Brady Smith
Hello, my name is Brady. I joined the youth advisory board because I want to help people with awful anxiety like I have, and to be the person I wish I had while fighting through my problems in life.
Vanessa Vargas
Hi, I'm Vanessa. I think that by being a part of Teens4TeensHelp I am able to advocate for mental health. I want to be able to help more people.
Olivia Tu (She/Her)
Hi! I'm Olivia, and I'm passionate about mental health advocacy. As a member of the board, I want to make mental health support more accessible and destigmatize conversations surrounding it.
Makayla Jurdi (She/Her)
Hello, my name is Makayla and as someone who has personally struggled with anxiety, I understand how overwhelming mental health challenges can be. Volunteering with Teens4MentalHealth Awareness allows me to use my experience to support others and create a safe space for teens to talk about their mental health. My goal is to help reduce stigma, raise awareness, and empower others to seek help when they need it most.
Giovana (She/Her)
Hello! My name is Giovana, and I am a high school student who is passionate about mental health advocacy and supporting other teens through their struggles. I joined this youth board because I believe that no one should feel alone if they are struggling. After facing my own challenges with mental health, I'm committed to helping create a safe, understanding space for all teens.