YOUTH POWER nothing about us without us YP!

In this eNews
Become a part of the YOUTH POWER! Team
image of desk with empty chair in front of YP office graffiti. Are you the Next Regional Youth Partner is written across the image
YOUTH POWER! is seeking applicants for the Hudson River Regional Youth Partner position. The Regional Youth Partners are peer leaders that connect local youth groups, coordinate regional youth advocacy efforts and provide technical assistance and training on youth empowerment, youth-guided practice, and youth peer services.
LOCATION:  Must reside in one of the 16 counties in the region. Preferred location Albany.
STATUS:  Full-time salary employee - High 30s with benefits package
QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Must have personal life experience accessing children's mental health services and be willing to share this information publicly. Additional experience with Disability, Foster Care, Addiction, or Juvenile Justice is beneficial.
  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Experience as a Youth Peer Advocate strongly preferred
  • Bachelor's or Associates Degree preferred but not required
  • Must have valid driver's license and reliable transportation
  • Must be able to travel

For the full posting, click here.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Applicants must send a resume with a formal cover letter in order to be considered. 
Emails and letters must indicate the title of the position that the applicant is seeking.
VOYA Engagement Coordinator Position Open!
VOYA _Voices of Youth Advisors_ logo. At the tops says _Rensselaer County_s Youth Advisory Council._ Underneath that says _VOYA._ Undeneath VOYA states _Voices of Youth Advisors_ Orange and purple microphone is place to the right of the text.
YOUTH POWER! is looking for applicants for the VOYA (Voices of Youth Advisors) Engagement Coordinator. 

VOYA (Voices of Youth Advisors) is a youth advisory council to Rensselaer County. VOYA is charged with bringing the perspective of young people who receive cross-system services to the work of Rensselaer County. VOYA ensures meaningful two-way communication and collaboration between the county and young people who receive services.

LOCATION:  Rensselaer County, NY
STATUS:  Hourly, Part-Time, 10-12 Hours per week, $15-18 per hour commensurate on experience.
QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Must have personal life experience in child serving systems such as: behavioral/mental health, disability, child welfare, addiction recovery, and/or juvenile justice.
  • 1 year experience with youth and family-serving systems and/or non-profit organizations.
  • High School Diploma or Equivalency
  • Experience coordinating projects.
  • Strong team leadership and collaboration abilities.
  • Excellent written, documentation, and computer skills.
  • Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
     
For the full posting, 

APPLICATION PROCESS: Applicants must send a resume with a formal cover letter in order to be considered. The letter should indicate the title of the position that the applicant is seeking. 

Mail to: YOUTH POWER! Attn: Management Office 737 Madison Avenue, Albany NY 12208 
Email to: [email protected]
Advocacy Training's Throughout NY
YOUTH POWER_ logo infront of black background of an institute. New York State Institute for Self-Advocacy logo beneath YP_ logo and institute. _New York State Institute for Self-Advocacy_ in text below logos and institute background.
Y OUTH  POWER! will be hosting several regiona l self-advocacy training's in t he Long Island, Western NY, Central NY, and Upper Hudson regions throughout the month  
of October! These training's are designed for youth (14+) with developmental/intellectual disabilities, but all are welcome to attend.

Graduates of the New York Institute for Self-Advocacy (NYISA) will be presenting on topics such as disability history, strategic sharing, personal leadership planning, and more! Attendees will learn these invaluable self-advocacy skills from fellow youth and peers! The dates, times, and locations for each training are as follows.

Western NY
October 26th at the Hillside Children's Center (1 Mustard Street, Rochester NY, 14609, Room 143) from 5:00-8:00 P.M.

Central NY and Upper Hudson Valley
October 16th at the Crandall Public Library (251 Glen St, Glens Falls, NY 12801) from 5:30-8:30 P.M.

Click here to download the registration form OR contact Zach Kilmer to register today!

 Zack Kilmer, NYISA Coordinator, at 518-708-3808 or  [email protected]

Youth Peer Advocate Leaders Meeting Dates Announced!
YPAL Connect in large text to the right. To the direct left is the Western region logo. A blue line separates YPAL Connect and Western logo. Below the blue line state the date of the meeting_ October 29th 2018 from 12pm and also who it is for_ Youth Peer Advocates _in the western region_.

This meeting takes place virtually. After registering, you will receive a link via email to connect using your computer or smartphone.

This event is intended for Youth Peer Advocate Supervisors in the Western Region of NY.

>>  Network! 
>>  Participate in training's! 
>>  Share ideas, resources, and upcoming opportunities! 
>>  Discuss strategies for implementing youth peer services, including the challenges and successes involved!
>> . . . and MORE!

Contact: Carly Congilosi 
Call/Text: 585-314-2452 

Calling all Youth Peer Advocates - PLSD Meeting Dates Announced
All text is centered in the image. Save the date for the next PLSD meeting. Date is announced underneath Save the Date text. _October 22_ 2018 at 12pm via Go-to webinar_ is stated. Youth power website_ email and Facebook tag is at the very bottom in small text.
Join Youth Peer Advocates from around New York State to develop skills, share information and become educated on issues related to youth peer advocacy and more! 

October's topic is overcoming stigma and barriers to young people in the workplace! 


Register at bit.ly/StatewidePLSD2

Did you miss our first Statewide Peer Leadership Support and Development ( PLSD ) Meeting?  Check out the link to the recorded webinar  here
(Follow directions to register to view webinar.)

APPLICATIONS ARE LIVE for the AMPLIFY-NY NYC Youth Leadership Forum!
New York City Applications are live_ Image shows the date in the top left corner_ November 17-20. The location is in the top right corner_ Briarcliff Manor_ NY. _Applications are live__ is centered on the image. Underneath the centered text states the location. Underneath the location states the link for more information and also who to contact.

YOUTH POWER!'s AMPLIFY-NY Initiative will host the 2018 New York City Region Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) for young people with disabilities to speak up, build skills, and prepare to take on leadership roles. 

This peer-run forum brings opportunities to  YOU th and gives the next generation of leaders the tools and support they need for success. The YLF is a safe, youth-friendly environment with plenty of fun activities to complement the wealth of knowledge being learned!  

This 4-day, 3-night forum is  FREE  to attend and includes panel presentations, hands-on activities to practice leadership skills, and supported leadership activities. Future leaders do not want to miss this opportunity to build leadership skills and become empowered with self-confidence and self-determination!
Deadline for Registration: October 26th, 2018
For more information, click  here!
To apply, click  here !
For questions regarding the YLF, contact:
Elijah Fagan-Solis
518-432-0333 ext. 19
#AMPLIFYNY
 
ATTENTION Parents/ Caregivers, this is for YOU!
Foundations for Leadership 
Saturday, November 
17th  AND Tuesday, November 20th

YOUTH POWER-Amplify-NY logo. Red microphone in front of two black speakers. Underneath the art states _YOUTH POWER_ AMPLIFY-NY_ Everyone can greatly benefit from connecting with their peers in order to support their personal growth. Additionally, young people want to be heard by their caregivers and receive that support as they grow into young leaders and become more self-sufficient. Through this FREE workshop series that brings together both the family and youth perspective, we give caregivers the tools they need to support the young people in their care as a vital part of their transition team through teaching, modeling, and support. Lunch will be provided on both days. 

Parents/caregivers attend the workshop on the first and last days of the Youth Leadership Forum, providing them the opportunity to support their youth attending a new event and witness them graduate the forum with pride (if they are participating).  The parent/caregiver workshop series includes both individual sessions and joint sessions with youth participants.

YOUTH POWER! has partnered with Families Together in New York State and INCLUDEnyc to develop this opportunity.
 
Apply now online by  clicking here or download the paper application on our website.

Deadline for registration: October 26th, 2018

For more information, contact Elijah Fagan-Solis at 518-432-0333 ext. 19 or  [email protected].

 
Become a part of Amplify-NY today!
YOUTH POWER-Amplify-NY logo. Red microphone in front of two black speakers. Underneath the art states _YOUTH POWER_ AMPLIFY-NY_

YOUTH POWER! aims to AMPLIFY-NY with regional youth leadership forums and supported leadership activities for young people with disabilities to speak up, build skills, and prepare to take on leadership roles. 

This initiative brings the opportunities to YOUth and amplifies the YP! network to give the next generation of leaders the tools and support they need for success. Parents and caregivers also have the opportunity to attend a series of workshops to assist them in continuing to help set the stage for young people with disabilities to Lead On!

The youth leadership forums and parent/caregiver workshops are FREE to attend.
This initiative is funded from 2017-2021 through a grant with the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC).

AMPLIFY-NY Planning Group-  This statewide planning group leads the way in planning regional youth leadership forums. Youth and young adults with developmental and other disabilities ages 14-24 will help design and carry out these forums, beginning with the pilot forum in the Capital District. This group meets 1-2 times per month.

In order to participate in AMPLIFY-NY's Planning Group, please contact 
[email protected] or 518-432-0333 ext. 19.

Any other questions contact -  [email protected]
Elijah Fagan-Solis @ 518-432-0333 ext. 19.

YOUTH POWER!

Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth Webinar
Image shows a rainbow border. Title center_ Systems and Sexuality_ Supporting LGBTQ_ Youth involved in systems webinar. Beneath is the Free to Be logo_ a bee with a rainbow body. Underneath logo is the date_ October 30th from 2-3pm. Underneath date and time_ _Learn the importance of engaging youth who identify_ how to work with LGBTQ_ youth in various systems and settings_ and how you can better aid the community and promote resiliency. _
Join our Central Regional Youth Partner and our NYISA Coordinator on
October 30th, 2018 from 2PM-3PM, for a webinar on  supporting LGBTQ+  
youth  who are involved in systems!

Learn the importance of engaging youth who identify, how to work with LGBTQ+ youth in various systems and settings, and how you can better ad the community and promote resiliency. 


If you have questions, please reach out to either Mica Gonzalez or Zach Kilmer.
Mica Gonzalez: [email protected] or  315-679-1476
Zach Kilmer: [email protected] or 518-708-6478

Calling for Youth Council Members!
Laptop with a rocket taking off from the keys and making clouds of smoke underneath. Grey background with white laptop.

Western New York Independent Living would like to invite youth/young adults living with a behavioral health diagnosis to hear about a new proje
ct and to 
consider being a council member to work on the policies and procedures that oversee the further development of the website and the rules that govern the users.
 

Erie County approved and funded a website proposal based on youth/young adult focus groups which stated what they need to be successful from transitioning in and out of school and onto employment. WNYIL would like to keep it in the hands of the users and target audience, you . This website will have social medias, gaming, community based organization information and links to all the federal and state resources to benefit you. Your input is needed to make sure it continues in the intended direction as a Peer based website to provide the needs to transition from school, to continuing education, employment, housing and more. Data will be collected on the hottest topics and most "hits" to State, Federal, and County resources as well as community based organizations and 'how to' videos. Please join us in this unique opportunity!

Who? 
Youth/Young Adults 14-24 with a behavioral health diagnosis
Why?  To be part of the continued development and input on a Website developed by your PEERS and to maintain meaningful to you and others like you.
When?  October 24, 2018 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Where?  Western NY Independent Living, 
3108 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14214
How?  Please click here t o register online!


The concept they developed is web based. It provides all resources in one location to support education, employment, transportation, housing and independent living skills.

If you have questions, please contact:  WNY Independent Living Center Director - Lynnette Torgalski at [email protected] 

Speak up, Speak out: A Youth on Policing in New York City
Civilian Complaint Review Board NYC logo. Blue circle with CCRB in the center surrounded by the spelled out text of CCRB.
The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) in conjunction with NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy & Research, and the NYU Law Center on Race, Inequality & the Law is hosting their first-ever youth summit on  February 5, 2019  from  9:00 AM - 4:00 PM  at  New York University Kimmel Center, Rosenthal Pavilion, 60 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012 .

This gathering is an opportunity for young people ages 10-24 from across New York City to directly share their experiences with policing, identify problems in their communities, and recommend solutions to public safety and police oversight practitioners and academics.
Additionally, the summit will showcase the work of young artists inspired by their experiences with policing. The insights shared by participants from this event will inform CCRB's 2019 report on youth, which will be released later that year.
This event is   FREE  and open to the public. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Additional information about the event will be available soon. Please check back here for a schedule of the day. If you have questions about the event, requests regarding accessibility, or need language interpretation assistance, please email  [email protected].  Interpretation services are free upon request.

Sponsors:

To the left. McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research logo_ purple lines overlapping one another. To the right of that logo is the Center on Race_ Inequality and The Law logo_ purple square with white inside stating the organization.
Any questions, please contact: 
CCRB Outreach-  Civilian Complaint Review Board
212-912-2092
 
Lift Away the Stigma with MHANYS!
Image of 3 woman working out. To the right is the event name. Below that is the date and time_ October 23rd_ 3-9pm. To the left below the image is the registration information_ www.MHANYS.org_lift. Questions_ please contact Joelle Monaco at 518-434-0439 or jmonaco_mhanys.org.
Mental health challenges - such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, and substance use - are just as common as physical challenges within the United States. In fact, more than one in five American adults will have a mental health problem in any given year. Yet too often, people do not get the help they need due to stigma.
In an effort to galvanize the Capital Region to decrease the stigma surrounding mental health and empower our community to improve their health and well being, the Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. is teaming up with real [FIT] life to Lift Away the Stigma.
Today through October 23rd, 2018, community members will have the opportunity to sign-up to take part in the 2nd Annual "Lift Away the Stigma" Circuit Training Marathon. This event will run from 3pm-9pm with 30-minute circuits sessions beginning at 4 pm at the real [FIT] life studio. 
 "Exercise and fitness are so important to an individual's mental wellness. We thank our friends at real [FIT] life for their leadership role in helping to end the stigma of mental illness," said Glenn Liebman, MHANYS' CEO.
Individuals who are interested in sponsoring this event or taking part to help Lift Away the Stigma can do so from now until October 23rd.  

In order to attend, you  MUST REGISTER
In order to register, please visit:  https://mhanys.org/lift/

Any questions pleases contact: Joelle Monaco at 518-434-0439 or

NYSILC Supported Patricio "Pat" Figueroa Scholarship
At the top _New York State Independent Living Council_ Inc. Beneath that states the abbreviation _NYSILC._ Below the abbreviation states _Empowering New Yorkers with Disabilities._

Pat Figueroa Scholarship
Since 2012, the New York State Independent Living Council, Inc. (NYSILC) has actively supported leadership opportunities for young adults with disabilities through the Patricio "Pat" Figueroa Scholarship. 

This scholarship awards young adults (ages 18-28) up to $250 to attend conference, training seminars, and other events to enhance their leadership abilities. The funding is aimed to help defray the cost of travel, food, and other out of pocket expenses. 

The council makes decisions on a first-come, first-served basis, while attempting to maximize resources. Decisions also stem from a cost and need basis of the applicant.
 
Award recipients are asked to provide two items: 
  • Documentation via a reimbursement form and 
  • Completion of a follow up survey summarizing their experience.
Click here to apply!  Ap plication Form.

If you have any questions, please contact Brad Williams at  [email protected]  or (518) 427-1060. 


NYSILC
518-427-1060 | 518-427-1139
Passion Academy - Develop your brand as a rising entrepreneur!
Image shows _Passion Academy_ Develop your brand as a rising entrepreneur _ professional_ Beneath states the date and time_ October 18th from 3-7pm. Underneath date and time is the featured speakers_ Carmen Duncan and Bob Manasier. Beneath states _Tap into branding strategies that will help you advance your career. For ages 18-24_ dinner will be provided._ Location is IgniteU_ 333 Broadway_ Suite 350_ Troy_ NY 12180. Beneath is registration details _PA9.eventbrite.com_ Cduncan_matransitionservices.org for any questions.
Passion Academy: Develop Your Brand as a Rising Entrepreneur + Professional  
For Age 18-24
 
Mission Accomplished Transition Services invites you to attend to our mini conference, Passion Academy: Develop Your Brand as a Rising Entrepreneur + Professional.
Established entrepreneurs Carmen "Coach Carmen" Duncan and Bob Manasier will coach rising entrepreneurs and young professionals, aged 18-24, through interactive exercises that will help you confirm your professional purpose, goals and discovering the brand that articulates who you are as a rising young professional and/or entrepreneur. The evening will conclude with dinner, nonalcoholic 'No-jitos' and 'Findyamosas' and additional networking with established influential professionals.
Date:  October 18, 2018
Time:  3:00pm - 7:00pm
Location:  IgniteU, 333 Broadway, Suite 350, Troy, NY 12180
Cost:  FREE
About Mission Accomplished Transition Services:  Our mission is prepare aspiring young professionals for the global economy by providing access to coaching, job training and professional development. We believe everyone should have access to help and support so they can reach their fullest potential. We believe aspiring young professionals have the power to become mature, active, and compassionate global citizens who take responsibility of their future and live a life of purpose.
Please register at https://pa9.eventbrite.com 
OMH Statewide Virtual Town Hall Registration now open!
Image shows 19 people scattered around networking with one another. _OMH Statewide Virtual Town Hall_ is in blue letters underneath. _Featuring Commissioner Ann Sullivan_ M.D._ Underneath the feature states the date and time_ November 13th from 1-3_30pm.
OMH (Office of Mental Health) is conducting a Statewide  Virtual  Town  Hall with 
Commissioner Ann Sullivan, M.D. , presenting and taking feedback on several key priorities under the new OMH Strategic Plan. This event will provide the public an opportunity to learn more about the OMH vision for the future, including progress on the Commissioner's top policy and planning priorities presented at last year's  Town Hall .
 
OMH is dedicated to providing individuals and families access to quality, integrated services and supports that foster recovery and well-being; public input is crucial in assisting the agency in meeting the needs of all people we serve.  All comments will be reviewed and considered in the development of the annual OMH Statewide Comprehensive Plan pursuant to Section 5.07 of the New York State Mental Hygiene Law.
 
The  town  hall will be held online via WebEx in order to maximize access for public participation, with limited in-person seating available in Albany for attendees who are unable to access the event online. Comments and questions can be presented both online and in-person for those attending at the OMH Central Office.

Registration is now OPEN! Click here to register.
 
If you require any special accommodations to participate or have any questions, please contact Ben Rosen at 518-474-1897.

The views and opinions expressed in third party messages and external links included in this eNews are those of the organization or individual mentioned. They do not necessarily reflect the official positions of YOUTH POWER!.
YP!
YOUTH POWER! is the New York State network of young people who have been labeled and are seeking change.  Together, we have decided to speak up about our experiences because no one knows what it is like for us better than we do.  Through peer-to-peer mentoring, we empower young people to be active citizens who are aware of government operations, their rights and the ability to use their voices to influence policies, practices, regulations and laws.  We are young people helping other people, ensuring availability of self-help and peer support while changing systems so that young people get the support they need with the respect and dignity they deserve.  Nothing About Us Without Us!

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