Youth Ambassadors
MISSION: Black Health Matters Initiative Youth Ambassadors program was established to elevate the mental health and wellness of Black youth in Santa Cruz county by combating isolation through events and networking, fostering impactful relationships, offering mentorship and support, and providing community engagement and leadership opportunities.
Enrollment in the YA program is always open to interested Black youth in Santa Cruz County! From ongoing engagement and programming to a calendar of activities and events - students are welcome to join however they prefer. Please email Program Director, Angela Chambers, for more info.
ABOUT THE YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
SCC Black Health Matters Initiative Youth Ambassadors program was established to elevate the mental health and wellness of Black youth in Santa Cruz county by allowing data to inform and guide our work. Our services focus on fostering authentic, impactful relationships with one another, offering mentorship and educational support, and providing community engagement and leadership opportunities.
This program empowers, connects, and supports the mental health and well-being of Black youth through mentorship, resources, leadership development, advocacy, self-expression, connection to the outdoors, cultural activities, and mental health and wellness services. YA offers a safe, intergenerational space for Black youth, countywide, to share their experiences and combat the propensity towards poor mental health that disproportionately impacts their future success.
Our current framework is driven by the youth’s goals, mentorship, and cultural convening. We do this work by cultivating a centered leadership cohort of Black youth representatives from across the county between the ages of 14-18. We do this to establish a leadership and mentorship development pipeline from middle school through graduation and beyond.
YA Centered leadership is an opportunity and invitation for Black youth to advocate for what they want to see in their community and produce it; to lead, support, and create the community they and other Black youth need to feel a sense of belonging. BHMI Ambassadors and Program Director engage in ongoing dialogue and planning about the program and its aims so that students can point BHMI in the right direction. As a result, BHMI offers a robust program of events, resources, advocacy, and mental health support and services for Black youth, and a home base rooted in deep care.