In the past, adults thought that if they just told teens what to do, teens would make better decisions. It didn’t work. Now, adults who work with teens are flipping the model. Instead of talking, they’re listening. Instead of acting without input, they’re waiting to find out what teens, especially those from marginalized communities, want and need. Enter the Youth Action Network sponsored by United Way. In this interview, Amanda Gamban, who is the Community Impact Coordinator for United Way Santa Cruz, details how local youth are building the new Youth Action Network from the ground up. With help from a grant co-sponsored by UCSC, the YAN is going to help local youth find their voices and create better communities for themselves, their peers, and their families.
Later in the hour, we are joined by Natalia Galdamez, a freshman at Harbor High, and Andrea Magdaleno, who is a second year student at Cabrillo College from Watsonville. Both are involved in the YAN Steering Committee that is determining how YAN will grow. They speak of their experiences in high school and in two youth groups that are involved with YAN, Jóvenes Sanos and Salud y Cariño.
For more information:
- Learn more about the Youth Action Network
- Are you a teen? Apply to join the Youth Action Network Steering Committee
- Are you a teen? Apply to become a YAN General Member on SCCYVPT.org
- Jóvenes SANOS
- Salud y Cariño
- Interested in learning more about the grant that made this possible? Listen to an interview with UCSC Sociology professor Rebecca London about the grant-writing process.
- Positive Youth Development
- Youth Voice
- Youth-Participatory Action Research
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