Michigan's statewide youth advisory council on sexual health!

What is MY Voice? 
​MY Voice is the youth advisory council that MOASH coordinates. MY Voice exists to inform the services, programs and materials created for youth by MOASH and other community partners. In addition, MY Voice members are involved in various youth advocacy efforts throughout the year and use their voices of experience to improve services for youth across the state. MY Voice members have the opportunity to be trained on a variety of sexual health topics, undergo leadership development, gain communication skills and work on advocacy efforts. Members are typically 16-21 but younger youth can be accepted on a case by case basis.  The council meets monthly, often in Lansing but also occasionally in other areas of the state.
Applications for the 2020-2021 MY Voice council are now open!  Interested to be part of next year's council?  Click the button to the left to be taken to the online application and get a sense of what you'll need to prep for next year.  We'll let you know when applications open back up!  

Meet our 2020-2021 MY Voice members:

Sky bodenmiller (xe/xem)
Sky Bodenmiller (xe/xem preferred, they/them): Sky Bodenmiller is currently a first year student at Wayne State University, majoring in Political Science, and hoping to join Wayne State’s law start program to pursue a career as a criminal defense lawyer. Sky is currently living in Wayne County and serving on MYVoice and MYGAB (MI Youth Girls Advisory Board) for xyr second year. Sky is passionate about education justice, racial justice, gender equality, and using xyr voice to do whatever xe can to make the world a more positive and equal place for everyone. Although it can be rare, when free time is available, xe enjoy writing and performing spoken word poetry, painting, and creating graphic art, especially when it ties into advocacy work. ​
nylah dobson (she/her)
Hi :), My name is Nylah Dobson and I am a senior at Berkeley High School. I enjoy meeting new people, creating new bonds, and learning from other people around me. I’m involved in many activities in and out of school and would consider myself a very friendly person. I plan on going to a HBCU for college and major in psychology. With that degree I want to open up my own mental health clinic/ community center.
P.s.  I have a warming smile and give hugs <3
​​
nate gainey
devin goldstein (he/him)
Hi! My name is Devin Goldstein, I am a trans and queer sexual health advocate studying sociology at Gallaudet University. Going to a university that has full language access by having Deaf space inspired me to focus on studying disability advocacy. I’m excited to work with MOASH in order to help create a place for all youth to learn about sexual health and get the resources they need. This is my first year working with MOASH but I have been advocating for sexual and HIV/ AIDS health since highschool through my GSA and being part of Cycle for the Cause- Northeast AIDS bike ride. ​
julia halvorson (she/her)
Julia Halvorson (she/her/hers) is a 19 year-old from Traverse City, MI that is currently attending Central Michigan University. This is her first year on MyVoice, but her passion for social justice and reform has existed for years. She is pursuing an education at CMU in Political Science and Women & Gender Studies in order to prepare her for a life long process of creating change.
xander hazel-groux (he/him)
Xander studies at Michigan State University receiving a major in the History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science at Lyman Briggs College with a minor in LGBTQ+ Studies. Xander started working with MOASH in 2017, and is currently MY Voice's longest standing member. Along with being on the Michigan Youth Voice council (MY Voice) he is part of the Youth Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS (YACHA). Outside of the youth advisory councils, he works to advocate for Queer and Transgender healthcare accessibility in medical institutions. He also works to promote comprehensive, medically accurate, inclusive sex education for LGBTQ youth in educational institutions. ​
ayah imran (she/her)
My name is Ayah Imran and I use the pronouns she/her/hers. I’m a senior at Skyline High School and I do dual enrollment at Washtenaw Community College. I’ve been a hostess at IHOP for almost a year now but I’m excited to start at MOASH and do work where I can make a difference in my community.
tyler miller​ (he/him)
Tyler Miller (he/him) is currently a junior at Caro High School. He is serving on the MYVoice
youth council for his first year. Outside of this he is also a member of NHS, Student Council,
Rotary, and is a state qualifying track and cross country runner. Tyler has previously worked on
LGBTQ advocacy work, and is looking forward to more opportunities. Besides issues pertaining
to the LGBTQ, Tyler is also passionate about environmental and educational issues. He hopes
to make his community a safer and more comfortable place for everyone.
grayson old (he/him)
Grayson (he/him) is currently in his first year at Western Michigan University. He is majoring in Strategic Communications with a focus in Diversity and Inclusion. This is his 2nd year serving on the MYVoice board and his 3rd year with MOASH. To continue his passion for sexual health Grayson is a part of a peer education student organization called Sexperts through his university. Outside of sexual health education and advocacy he is interested in unbias re-education, tea, and environment justice.
gracia ann perala (she/her)
My name is Gracia Ann Perala and I am a senior at Calumet High School. I love school and learning and am involved in band, JROTC, pep club, and SADD. I play soccer and have been figure skating for fifteen years. I enjoy making and producing music, playing piano, painting, and watching films. I plan to major in English and then attend law school. This is my first year with MY Voice and I am passionate about advocacy, especially on the topics of sexual education, sexual violence, HIV/AIDS, gun violence, and LGBTQ+ rights. ​
sampoorna ravikanth (she/her)
Sampoorna Ravikanth (she/her/hers) is a sophomore at the University of Michigan studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and Political Science. Sampoorna began her work with MyVoice in 2019 and is very excited to continue her advocacy work with MOASH this year. Growing up in Ann Arbor, Sampoorna began her advocacy work at Pioneer High School where she was a strong advocate for adolescent sexual health and violence prevention in the public school system. Currently, outside of her work with MOASH, she is an active volunteer at the Umich Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center’s cohort for bystander intervention and community engagement. Additionally, she works at SAPAC as a staff facilitator for their peer-led support group for POC’s providing support to survivors of color in the university community. Sampoorna is very passionate about helping others and using her voice to bring about change!
elliot rayher-badger (he/him)
Elliot Rayher-Badger (he/him) is a sophomore at Pioneer high school in Ann Arbor. He is part of Pioneer’s Ethics Bowl team and GSA. Elliot has been participating in LGBTQ activism since he was in middle school and is currently part of both MY Voice and My Trans Voice. In addition to LGBTQ rights, he is interested in racial justice, disability justice, and mental health education. In his free time, Elliot likes to play guitar and draw. 
divya reddy (she/her)
Divya Reddy (she/her) is currently a senior at Williamston High School, and serves on the MYVoice, MYGAB (MI Youth Girls Advisory Board), and YACHA (Youth Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS) youth councils. Divya hopes to attend college in the future, and continue to work in advocacy along the way. In the future, Divya aspires to work in the fields of medicine and social justice. One of her main aspirations in life is working to provide equitable, accessible, and affordable healthcare to all that may need it, and she hopes that by becoming a physician she will be able to change the medical field for the better. Outside of her major goals, Divya’s passions include, sexual health education, erasing STI stigma, and promoting racial and gender equality. Divya hopes that with her voice combined with the voices of all of the other amazing youth surrounding her, they can change the world to be a more equitable, equal, and affirming place for all!
Re'yelle smith
gwYneth vanden belt (she/her)
Gwyneth Vanden Belt is a sophomore at Glen Lake High School.  She is a member of the Glen Lake National Honor Society, as well as Glen Lake’s Students for World Awareness.  She is excited to join MYVoice and YACHA this year.  Her ultimate goal is to make a difference and be an advocate for others.  In her free time, Gwyneth likes to hike, ski and hang out with friends.
​pablo villalvazo
mae zurita (she/her)
Mae Zurita is a 19 year old studying business at Davenport University. At Davenport University she plays for the esports team as the captain of the Overwatch team. In work she is a board member on the MOASH board of directors, as well as a separate job as an Overwatch coach with Connected Camps for high schoolers. She founded and is running an student organization called the Student Sexual Health Network that is dedicated to providing resources that aid safe sex amoung Davenport University students. Through her work as an advocate she ensures that that youth voice is being thought of and centered in every discussion.