MOASH’s YAC Collective is a group of five 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 Rreproductive 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
What's the YAC Collective?
What's the YAC Collective?
Jump to....
Michigan Youth Faith Advisory Council
Michigan Youth of Faith is a new interfaith-based YAC seeking to work towards healing and justice in the areas of faith, sexual and reproductive freedom, and LGBTQ+ rights.
MY Faith will work with religious institutions, faith-based organizations, queer youth of faith (QYOF), and those who love them across Michigan to address sexual and reproductive health justice in the state. MY Faith provides a space for youth to exist in their queer and/or spiritual identities.
Youth ages 16-24 will participate in sexual and reproductive health advocacy work, healing discussions that seek to bridge the historical and current gap between faith groups and the LGBTQ+ community, and other activities related to these issues as decided by the group.
Michigan Youth Trans Voice
MY Trans Voice (MY TV) is a southeast Michigan youth advisory council in collaboration with Stand with Trans that focuses on the unique needs of transgender/non-binary youth. We have representatives (ages 13-21) 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, MY Trans Voice engages in professional development opportunities to increase confidence and ability to advocate on behalf of the trans community. MY Trans Voice meets regularly to build community, work on collective goals to help create positive change in the community, and last but not least - have fun!
Michigan Youth Racial Equity Council
MY REC (Michigan Youth Racial Equity Council) 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 (BIPOC), be between the ages of 13-24, and live within the state of MI.
Michigan Youth Voice
Who?
Michigan youth ages 16-21 (younger youth may be accepted on a case by case basis)
there is no specific criteria for members within MY Voice, but each year we try to prioritize diversity in different ways
What?
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
receive training on a variety of sexual health topics
undergo leadership develpment
gain communication skills
work on advocacy efforts
Where?
young people residing anywhere in Michigan are welcome to apply
most meetings are solely offered virtually, but MY Voice has a few in-person meetings throughout the year. If you cannot make it in person, you will be able to attend virtually.
Why?
to inform the services, programs, and materials created for youth by MOASH and other community partners
Michigan Youth Sexual Health for Adolescents Rooted in Equity
MY SHARE (Michigan Youth Sexual Health for Adolescents Rooted in Equity) informs MOASH's SHARE program which includes sexual health and healthy relationship curriculum review by youth who hold the following identities: rural youth, LGBTQIA+ youth, and youth of color.
Interested in partnering with our YACs on a project or event? Fill out the YAC Partnership Request Form below!
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 LGBTQIA2S+ youth to apply. Visit our application info document for helpful details and more info!
Expectations
Want to join a YAC?
-
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
-
Fair compensation for your time ($20/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.
of MOASH
of Members
MY REC Youth Co-Facilitator
Anamika S.
(she/her)
MY SHARE Youth Co-Facilitator
Hailey G.
(any pronouns)
MY SHARE Co-Facilitator
Jarred D.
(he/him)
MY PAC Facilitator
Kyna K.
(she/her)
MY SHARE Youth Co-Facilitator
Dale K.
(he/him)
MY Faith Facilitator
Hannah M.
(they/them)
MY Faith Youth Co-Facilitator
Kay K.
(they/them)
MY REC Facilitator
Nupur H.
(she/her)
MY Voice Facilitator
Gray O.
(he/him)
MY PAC Youth Co-Facilitator
JaVonna B.
(she/her)
MY SHARE Co-Facilitator