YLN NEWSLETTER

Monthly Resources, Information and Connection

JUNE 2023

Why is Pride Month Important to Celebrate?

Did you know that 1 in 6 Gen Z adults identify as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community? We celebrate Pride month to publicly include all members of our families and communities who in the past had to hide who they were. Talking about Pride month as a family can make a big difference in how our children see the world. Some common ways to celebrate can include attending a parade, doing a related art project, fly a pride flag, volunteer your time as a family to an LGBTQIA+ related cause, and any other way your family sees fit! While bringing more awareness during the month of June is important, we also want to be sure we are carrying this messaging through in our daily lives throughout the remainder of the year.

We Can Talk About It

When the world doesn’t listen, be the friend who does. Many of us feel like we can’t discuss our mental health for many reasons. “We Can Talk About It” encourages you to push past taboos and misconceptions about mental health by seizing the awkward, reaching out to a friend and checking in.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer opportunity with the Folk Life Festival put on by the Smithsonian. Learn more and apply here.

Fairfax County NCS is hosting a July 4th Carnival Day Cookout on July 7th from 10 am to 2 pm. This event will be indoors, and we need volunteers to help set up, clean up, and assist with operating the popcorn machine, ice machine, and cotton candy machine during the event.

Minimum age: 16

July 4th Carnival Day Cookout

July 7, 2023

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Serve and operate popcorn, ice machine, cotton candy during event

Address: Original Mt. Vernon High School 8333 Richmond Highway Alexandria, VA 22309

Contact Info: Sharnel Jones 703-704-6234

What is Juneteenth?

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared a formal end to slavery in the United States. However, change was not instant after the proclamation. Nearly two and a half years later, on June 19th, 1865, the enslaved African Americans of Galveston, Texas got the news by way of the Union army troops that freedom had come at last.

The next year, the people of Galveston commemorated that day as Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom. Since then, it’s been observed in communities and states as a holiday, but officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

Why is the holiday called Juneteenth? The name blends the month and the day this news reached the people of Galveston: “June” plus “nineteenth” is Juneteenth. It’s also often called Emancipation Day or Freedom Day.

Leadership Resources

Check out our Training Catalog here.

Upcoming Events

Power Hour Virtual Training

Eeek, Do I need a résumé now?

August 2023

Youth Leadership Conference

November 2023

Useful Resources

Youth serving opportunities and partnerships at the state and local level tell us that using Grants.gov to find funding opportunities to serve youth and their families is a challenge. youth.gov is happy to announce the launch of the new tool that helps to solve this problem by allowing users to search for grants for programs that specifically serve youth and their families. This search tool taps into the Grants.gov database and allows users to customize their search results by applying keywords and filters for youth-related topics (such as bullying, mental health, and substance abuse) and grant-providing agencies. Search for grants here.

988 is now active across the United States. This new, shorter phone number will make it easier for people to remember and access mental health crisis services. Click here to learn more about 988.

Applications are Now Open for the Fall 2023

Teens with Heartsongs Leadership Program

We need passionate, dynamic high school students who want to learn, grow and be part of something meaningful! Teens with Heartsongs is an organization dedicated to supporting the patients of Children’s National Hospital and their families.

Teens with Heartsongs is a leadership program for high school students that provides teens with important life skills, an introduction to philanthropy and building community, and of course the ability to know that they are making a difference in the hearts, minds and health of hundreds of children each year. Students will earn recognition and certification from Children’s National for their impact on the Hospital and their families. Earn service credit hours, help families in need, and collaborate and have fun with your friends! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to info@teenswithheartsongs.org.

APPLY TO BE A TEAM LEADER (45 SSL Hours)

APPLY TO BE A TEAM MEMBER (30 SSL Hours)

MONTHLY INSPIRATION

Seeing the lack of cultural competency in his school and community, NAMI Next Gen advisor Austin Wyman took action and advocated for more diverse counselors on his college campus. Thanks to his work, his campus counseling center hired its first three Black counselors and began offering more diverse mental health services. For Austin, his mental health advocacy has empowered his dream of becoming a mental health professional.

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Youth Leadership Network - Leadership Fairfax

Questions? Email Lavina Colaço our YLN Advocacy Manager lavina@leadershipfairfax.org