Learn more about MOASH mobilizes youth voices through our youth advisory councils!  Jump to a section:
What is the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Collective? 
MOASH’s YAC Collective is a group of seven different youth advisory councils, or YACs. A YAC is a group of young people working together to advance adolescent sexual health in MI while building personal and professional knowledge and skills. YACs are youth-driven, with support from adult MOASH staff facilitators and youth co-facilitators. While each YAC has its own focus of work and individual projects, all work in tandem throughout the year to increase statewide impact, build youth relationships and cultures of support among youth and facilitators, optimize collective capacity, and provide a structured and consistent experience for youth development.

​Purpose: The goal of the YAC Collective is to improve sexual and reproductive health and wellness (SRH) among Michigan youth, particularly among youth who experience systemic marginalization or discrimination. This includes promoting traditional health outcomes (reduced STIs, unintended pregnancies, and sexual violence) as well as positive youth development outcomes (increased SRH empowerment and sex positive culture).

YACs meet at least monthly and participate in the following activities throughout the year:
  • Social bonding and community building with other youth
  • Training on sexual health topics and leadership skills
  • Giving feedback (through surveys, focus groups) on youth programs, policies, and resources from other organizations
  • Planning and hosting their own YAC projects, presentations, and events
Applications for our newest council - the Michigan Youth Racial Equity Council (MY REC) - are now open!  Apply by May 31, 2022 via online form.
Interested to partner with our YACs on a project or event?  Fill out the YAC Partnership Request Form below!

Click on each of the seven council names below to read about their descriptions and projects:

michigan Youth voice (MY VOICE)
The MY Voice council strives to empower youth within the state to take charge of advocacy in their own communities. It does this by providing ongoing professional development and opportunities to expand horizons in the advocacy sphere. MY Voice exists to inform the services, programs and materials created for youth by MOASH and other community partners. There is no specific criteria for members within MY Voice, but each year we try to prioritize diversity in different ways. Members are typically 16-21 years old but younger youth can be accepted on a case by case basis. The MY Voice council is a little bit of everything all of the time.

​Project examples: Volunteering for the BAMM Pride Summit, youth advocacy days at the state capitol, speaking on panels at different conferences and events (on topics like healthcare access, sex education, LGBTQIA+, etc.), providing feedback to decision makers through focus groups.
michigan youth access (my access)
MY Access is a youth advisory council for Disabled Michigan youth ages 13-24 who advocate for accessible and accurate sex education and sexual health resources. We work to educate and empower Disabled youth in Michigan. We support their advocacy efforts, both at the individual level and in broader policy. MY Access has an annual virtual summit for Disabled Michigan youth to create a community space where they can lead discussions, ask questions, and feel empowered in their bodies.
​
Project examples: Online youth summit on disability access and inclusion, developing a Disability in Sex Education resource toolkit for educators, legislative advocacy around Disabled youth  and students with IEPs access to sex ed in schools
michigan youth trans voice (My tV)
MY Trans Voice (MyTV) is a southeast Michigan youth advisory council that focuses on the unique needs of transgender/non-binary youth. We have representatives (ages 13-19) from several counties (Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne, and St. Clair) and school districts across southeast Michigan. The goal of MyTV is to advocate for trans students in Michigan and to improve conditions for trans youth in their communities. As a group we have engaged in professional development opportunities to increase confidence and ability to advocate on behalf of the trans community. We meet regularly to build community, work on collective goals to help create positive change in the community, and have fun!

​Project examples: Developing a resource guide for schools to be more trans-inclusive, supporting Trans Empowerment Month activities, legislative advocacy (high school sports bans for trans athletes, etc.)
michigan youth girls advisory board (MY GAB)
MY GAB is a youth advisory council that focuses on empowering girls and nonbinary youth and shifting the culture and climate of consent in Michigan schools. MY GAB exists to inform the services, programs, and materials created for youth by MOASH and other community partners. MY GAB members are involved in various youth advocacy efforts throughout the year and use their voices to improve services for youth across the state, especially as it relates to sexual violence and consent. Members should be 13-19, as we focus on K-12 schools. MY GAB is open to youth who don't identify as boys - nonbinary and trans youth are encouraged to apply. ​

Project examples: Michigan Youth Consent Month, youth advocacy days, social norms campaigns via Instagram, Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
MICHIGAN YOUTH RACIAL EQUITY COUNCIL (MY REC)
The Michigan Youth Racial Equity Council (MY REC) is a youth-led project where people between the ages of 13-24 are paid to receive the education, support, opportunities, and resources necessary to become leaders and advocates addressing important issues related to racial justice, sexual health education and services, and reproductive justice.​​  Members must identify as a person of color (POC), be between the ages of 13-24, and live within the state of MI.
MICHIGAN YOUTH COMMUNITY (MY COMMUNITY)
MY Community is a youth advisory council that works to address and advocate for the specific needs of LGBTQ+ youth, ages 13-19, from rural communities in Michigan, specifically northern Michigan and the UP. Members will serve as a sounding board for those who want student feedback, speak at trainings and events to inform key stakeholders about actions to meaningfully affect students, and advance policies and practices in local school communities.
Michigan Youth QUEER/TRANS/INTERSEX people of color (MY QTIPOC)
MY QTIPOC (Michigan Youth Queer/Trans/Intersex People of Color) is a youth advisory council focused on amplifying, empowering, and centering voices of LGBTQ+ youth of color. Members, ages 13-19, will be involved in panels and other advocacy efforts to dismantle racism in queer communities and homophobia in communities of color, as well as advocate for overall liberation, inclusion, and justice for queer people of color. ​

Interested to join our YAC Collective? We'd love to have you!
​Here's what you need to know:

Member eligibility:
 Applicants must be between the ages of 13-24 and live in Michigan. Different YACs have different age ranges and eligibility criteria based on grant requirements and scope of work.  We strongly encourage Black youth and youth of color, youth with disabilities, youth in rural areas, youth living with HIV, expectant and parenting youth, and transfemme youth to apply.
What we expect of members:
  • Each individual YAC meets monthly based on member availability for one grant cycle (typically one year from October through September). All groups that form the YAC Collective meet quarterly (four times a year) at one large meeting together.  We expect members to be able to attend most of the meetings. While we will have a mix of in-person and virtual meetings next year, all meetings will have a virtual join option for member safety, comfort, and accessibility.
  • Members are expected to consistently communicate both their availability and capacity in a timely manner to ensure effective collaboration
  • Authenticity (show up as your whole self, whatever that looks like)
  • It is also expected that members will complete some additional tasks between meetings, if necessary (like when we run out of time at meetings, have an urgent request for youth feedback or are engaging in a special project) 
  • We expect members to help to create a safe and affirming environment both for themselves, their advisors, and their peers
  • Members should be passionate about youth advocacy work and inclusivity, regardless of previous experience (or the lack thereof)
  • Permission from a parent or guardian is required for those ages 17 and under
Vertical Divider
What members can expect of us:
  • Fair compensation for your time ($17/hr), expertise, and travel as well as meal support at meetings (in the form of gift cards for online meetings)
  • ​Opportunities for leadership development
  • Training on a variety of sexual and reproductive health and social justice topics
  • Participation in social media campaigns
  • Opportunities to give feedback on sex education curricula and other youth advocacy project
  • Participation in panels and events
  • Other advocacy work relating to youth rights

Members have a lot of say over what happens throughout the year and we're always open to youth feedback. At all times, youth voice is the priority - feel free to offer ideas about how we can best make YACS work for youth.