AAOP’s Summer Youth Programming closed at the end of last summer, but for the first time, youth interested in learning more and putting their advocacy skills to the test were able to continue their work during the school year.
The Youth Action Team (YAT) began in Fall 2019, with Summer Organizing Fellows Pa, Pa Hok, Kimi, Pa Kou, and Saylia as members of the team.
“We were able to choose a social topic that we were all interested in and bring light to it,” says Pa Hok, who is a Youth Leader for the 2020 Summer Organizing Fellowship cohort. “Mental health is not [often] talked about. It makes me really happy to be part of the Youth Action Team and work on this.”
The Youth Action Team worked together to facilitate a series of workshops centered on Mental Health. These workshops were facilitated at youth-centered spaces including Cookie Cart, Hennepin Tech, and Upward Bound.
This model of youth-led workshops for youth fosters peer learning and personal growth. Not only were Youth Action Team members able to learn and grow to become leaders within their own community, but these workshops provided a space for youth to discuss mental health without well-meaning adults.
“I know that most [school] staff[s] [sic] do their best to support students and their mental health but the stigma within us as high schooler and people in general is what’s stopping many of us to get help,” Pa Hok says. “Which makes me really sad although I do see their point that it is really scary to reach out to an adult.”
The increased concerns over COVID-19 made many of the planned Mental Health workshops difficult to facilitate. As youth began learning how to use digital tools to plan their workshops and to attend them, the Youth Action Team began to pivot their facilitation work into addressing COVID-19 concerns, by compiling youth stories, artwork, and resources for youth.
In late May, the Youth Action Team released a zine compilation called “The Pandemic Depression.” The zine compilation included youth stories, artwork, and resources for youth in navigating the current landscape with the pandemic while addressing mental health, xenophobia, and more. (Read the zine here).
Pa, who is also a Summer Youth Leader this year, says: “I’m really grateful I had the opportunity to join the YAT. It’s been an amazing school year with the other girls.”
This was also a learning experience for Pakou, who was previously a Summer Organizing Fellow in 2019. She says, “I learned the importance of advocating because it helps to create changes that are needed for improvement and developing in the community.”
“This program overall was a good experience and opportunity for me to continue to grow and learn. I will take what I have learned and experience and continue to grow and fight for my beliefs… The YAT ended so fast, our last meeting was before I even knew it. I am really glad I was part of the team, and was able to have a foundation to advocate for my beliefs,” says Pa Hok.