Announcing the 2007-2008 Youth Leadership Team
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy is pleased to announce the 15 new members of the 2007-2008 Youth Leadership Team (YLT). Following an extensive nation-wide search, the following teens have been selected to participate in the 2007-2008 YLT:
- Bridget, 17 - Ellendale, ND
- Christian, 15 - Harrisburg, PA
- Christina, 15 - Washington, DC
- Jia Jun, 17 - Brooklyn, NY
- Laurisa, 16 - Pueblo, CO
- Lorena, 17 - Alexandria, VA
- Nimsy, 16 - Albuquerque, NM
- Phillip, 14 - Houston, TX
- Rebecca, 17 - Linden, TN
- Sam, 17 - Hidden Hills, CA
- Shaniqua, 15 - New Britain, CT
- Staphany, 16 - Santa Ana, CA
- Taylor, 16 - Cincinnati, OH
- To’Shawn, 15 - Gastonia, NC
- Zen, 17 - Lincoln, NE
What is the Youth Leadership Team?
Created in 1998, the YLT seeks to faithfully reflect the views of teens in he National Campaign's work and give voice to their unique perspectives by getting them actively involved – both nationally and locally – in teen pregnancy prevention efforts. To date, 132 teens from 37 states and the District of Columbia have participated in five YLT classes. They come from communities large and small, urban and rural, from every geographic region of the nation, and from highly diverse backgrounds.
Each YLT class is recruited from national, state, and local youth-serving organizations, such as Students Against Destructive Decisions, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and others of similar caliber and reach.
The YLT typically meets two or three times over an 18-month period, most often in Washington, DC. The Campaign underwrites all ground and air transportation, and meals and lodging in conjunction with the YLT meetings. See pictures from the November 2007 Youth Leadership Team Meeting.
What Does the YLT Do?
During their 18-month term, YLT members will take part in a variety of activities that both promote teen pregnancy prevention and expand their own abilities. YLT members will:
- participate in training sessions on working with the press and public speaking;
- visit Capitol Hill and meet with their Senators and Representatives to talk about teen pregnancy prevention;
- receive assistance planning projects in their own communities to raise awareness of the issue; and
- participate in a number of National Campaign activities, such as the popular National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
In the past, YLT members have:
- served as teen spokespeople for on issues of sex and teen pregnancy for media outlets such as NBC News, CNN, The New York Times, MTV, Latina Magazine, and The Washington Post;
- written articles for teen magazines and websites such as Teen People and MTV.com; and
- contributed to popular National Campaign publications, such as Talking Back: What Teens Want Parent to Know About Teen Pregnancy and Thinking About the Right-Now.
Special Thanks
The National Campaign wishes to thank Wyeth (www.wyeth.com) for their generous support of the 2007-2008 Youth Leadership Team.
Additional Information
If you are interested in learning more about the YLT, please contact Michael Rosst at (202) 478-8507 or mrosst@thenc.org.