Check out YACHA, MOASH's council on HIV education and service access

What is the Youth Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (YACHA)? 
​YACHA, a project of MOASH and Wellness Services, Inc., is a youth-driven leadership and advocacy group for young people living with HIV/AIDS and their allies. Council members participate in and facilitate workshops/trainings and plan events (like the PrEP & Proud campaign) focused on HIV awareness/prevention, inclusive and affirming sexual health education, policy reform, mental health, suicide prevention, and more. Members will inform local, regional, and statewide HIV resources, programming, and policies that impact young people living with HIV. Council members are typically 15-24 years old but exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis. Council members are either youth living with HIV or youth allies who are interested in supporting youth living with HIV. 

YACHA also organizes the annual HIV & You(th) Summit.  Click here to learn more!
Applications are open for the 2020-2021 YACHA!  Click the button to be taken to the online application.  

Meet our YACHA members:

devin galex (they/them/ey/em)
Devin is a senior at Saginaw Valley State University studying social work. Eir passion is to uplift marginal voices and ey have a special interest in the lgbtqia+ community. Devin is new to working with MOASH and is currently on the Youth Advisory Council for HIV and AIDS (YACHA). Devin wants to help increase accessibility and debunk the cissexist and homophobic myths everywhere, but especially in healthcare settings. In their free time, Devin volunteers with food pantry organizations and advocates for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, coming home to crochet with eir 6 guinea pigs at the end of the day.
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. ​
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. ​
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!
syd lio riley (he/they/ze)
Lio Riley began his work in advocacy while in high school, founding Flushing's first GSA. Now a junior at the University of Michigan, Lio is passionate about trans liberation, disability justice, and prison abolition. They study American culture and sociology/social work and hope to study social work or law after completing their undergraduate degree. Lio is also the student lead for the University of Michigan's LGBTQ Oral History Project at the Spectrum Center.
kayla shannon (she/her)
Kayla is a freshman at Spelman College majoring in Political Science. At Spelman, she has had the honor of being selected as a recipient of the Dovey Johnson Scholarship and as a member of the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program. She hails from Grand Blanc, MI, where she has spent most of her academic career. She is an independent poet and has travelled nationally to perform pieces about social justice work and her personal struggles as a young black woman in America. However, when she is not writing or performing she spends time doing grassroot work within her community, doing schoolwork, attending church, or hanging out with close friends. Although her life is hectic, she finds solace in knowing God has a purpose for her life and the gifts he has given her.
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.