Developing youth voice and leadership through peer education
Help youth develop into active, aware and concerned citizens who are engaged in the political process.
We believe that it is important that the youth of the state have a voice in the process as New Mexico develops strategies and solutions to meet its social and economic needs. As we train and empower them to do that we are also creating the next generation of advocates.
Youth Link is a statewide youth leadership and policy development program. It provides New Mexican youth and young adults (age 12 to 24) with the opportunity to develop leadership and advocacy skills, build strategic relationships with other youth and adults, and impact public policy. This is done through work on tangible issues such as the prevention of violence and tobacco use.
Youth Link provides professional, effective training and technical assistance to youth and adults working with youth, helping them strengthen their capacity for effective action at the local level, as well as organize around issues youth have identified as priorities for policy action at the state level. Member groups from more than 46 different communities participate in Youth Link, but all are welcome and encouraged to join. The larger the network of participating youth, the stronger our combined youth voice.
Youth Link oversees publication of The YEAH! Times newsletter and the 2008 Native Youth Agenda, which was a creation of Native Youth Voices theprogram.
We work with hundreds of youths in existing groups and organizations across New Mexico through the YEAH! Coalition. YEAH! (Youth Empowerment Advocacy Heroes) is made up of community coalitions, youth groups, school clubs, and
the like. YEAH! participation teaches advocacy skills, helps youth build the confidence
needed to use their voice, and provides them with opportunities to improve the
overall health and well-being of their communities. YEAH! members participate
in numerous retreats, training workshops and other programs such as teleconferences,
the YEAH! Coalition Newsletter, and annual events.
Youth Link and partners sponsor several events every year—from retreats where youths learn about the legislative process and advocacy to the youth-designed Fame & Shame Awards ceremony.
Presented in partnership with the NM Media Literacy Project, the annual Fame and Shame Awards is a red-carpet, Oscar-style, smoke-free movies event focused on smoking in the movies and recognition of outstanding youth advocates. The "Shammie" awards are presented to movies and actors for their shameless depiction of tobacco use in G, PG and PG-13 rated movies. The "Fame" part of the event is the presentation of the Youth Kicking Tobacco's Butt Youth Advocate of the the Year Award honoring youth who have done outstanding work in tobacco-use prevention.
Nominees for this annual award are youth advocates from around the state who
have distinguished themselves as leaders working to protect their peers and communities
from tobacco addiction and tobacco-related illnesses. One winner from a middle school
and one from a high school are selected by a statewide panel of five judges, with
input from the Department of Health Tobacco Use Prevention and Control (TUPAC).
Winners are presented with certificates, awards and prizes.
When launched in 1994, this statewide youth leadership program was the only one like it in the country. Our first funder, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, considered the program something of a testing ground.
In the early years, our Youth Link participants looked at a wide variety of policy issues—from homelessness to teen pregnancy, gun safety and curfew laws. We have focused in recent years on tobacco use and violence prevention, but the lesson in the power of civic participation is the same.
Youth Link and its many coalition partners were instrumental in the passage of the Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act, which was passed by the Legislature and signed into law in 2006.
New Mexico Department of Health—TUPAC, Albuquerque Public Schools Health and Wellness Department, United Way of Central New Mexico, and New Mexico Department of Health Office of Injury Prevention.
Youth Link Program Manager Rasa Herzog, 505-244-9505, ext. 18
Program Coordinator Brian Urban, 505-244-9505, ext. 25
