>>> IT HELPS TO HAVE A BALANCED RELATIONSHIP WHERE WE HAVE ADULTS AND YOU WORKING TOWARD THE COMMON GOAL.

IT´S NOT TOO MUCH YOUTH, NOT TOO MUCH ADULT.

IT HELPS HAVING A YOUTH AS THE FACE OR A REPRESENTATIVE.

THAT WAY, OTHER YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO WANT TO COME ON AND JOIN THESE PROGRAMS, SEE ANOTHER YOUNG FACE AND SAY, I CAN SEE MYSELF IN THEM.

IT´S REALLY A RELATIONSHIP THAT I CAN GROW WITH THEM AND THEY GROW WITH ME AS WELL.

>> TELL ME, WHAT KIND OF TECHNIQUES DO YOU USE TO BRING YOUNG PEOPLE ON BOARD?

WHAT´S YOUR SECRET?

>> THAT´S A GOOD QUESTION.

AGAIN, IT REALLY IS JUST MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

WE TRY OUTREACH ON YOUTUBE CHANNELS.

ANOTHER WAY THAT WE REALLY DO REACH THEM IS GOING WHERE THEIR PARENTS ARE, WHERE THEIR GUARDIANS ARE, THE OLDER ONES OR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM ARE.

NOTHING HELPS THAN HAVING A PARENT, A GUARDIAN, MONEY IS -- SOMEONE ENCOURAGING THEM.

WE START GETTING TO THE YOUTH.

YOU HAVE TO GET TO AT DUL THE FIRST.

>> YOU MENTIONED BEFORE A CHAT LINE.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

HOW HAS THAT BEEN WORKING FOR YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT AGAIN WITH SUPPORT FROM THE TEAM.

WHAT WE DID TO START OFF WAS YOU REALLY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE YOUTH BEING IN THE VIRTUAL SETTING.

BECAUSE OF THE UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PANDEMIC, THAT´S WHERE ALL OF THEM WENT TO.

WE STARTED REACHING OUT TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS, ADULT CONNECTIONS.

ONCE THEY GOT THAT TO THEIR SONS, DAUGHTERS, NIECES AND NEPHEWS, WE ASKED THEM, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT US TO DO FOR YOU?

MANY WERE INTERESTED IN A WEEKLY CHAT.

EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 3:00 TO 3:30, WE BRING A RESOURCE TO THEM.

WE GIVE THEM TIME TO TALK AND MEET OTHER YOUTH.

WE HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT BY AGAIN -- I SAY IT ALL THE TIME, JUST MEETING YOUTH WHERE THEY ARE.

THEY´RE IN A VIRTUAL SETTING.

YOU HAVE TO ASK THEM, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU?

THAT´S WHAT WE DID.

THAT´S HOW THE CHATS CAME ABOUT.

>> WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS AND WHAT KINDS OF ISSUES HAVE YOU SEEN IN THESE CHATS?

HAVE THERE BEEN A COMMON THREAD?

JUST A WIDE VARIETY?

WHAT KINDS OF PROBLEMS OR ISSUES HAVE YOU HAD TO ENGAGE IN?

>> THERE HAVE BEEN MANY, MANY TALKS AND MANY CHATS IN THESE GROUPS.

WE STARTED IN JUNE.

ONE COMMON THING THAT WE SEE EVERY WEEK IS REALLY -- THEY ALL WANT TO BE HEARD AND TO LEARN HOW TO BE HEARD.

THE PREVIOUS WEEKS, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, WHAT IT IS TO LEARN FROM FAILURE.

THEY ALL HAVE ONE MESSAGE.

THEY WANT SOMEWHERE TO SPEAK UP.

THEY WANT SOMEONE TO SPEAK TO.

THEY ALL HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN LEARNING HOW TO DEVELOP THESE IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS OF ADVOCATING FOR THEMSELVES.

>> WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT?

DO YOU HAVE TRAINING SESSIONS?

FIRST OF ALL, I´M INTRIGUED IT´S A HALF HOUR.

YOU VALUE THEIR TIME.

I WOULD IMAGINE THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO NAVIGATE SCHOOL AND HOMEWORK AND MAYBE A WORK LIFE AS WELL.

HOW DID YOU COME TO EVEN SETTING THIS UP?

THEN WE WILL TAKE THE NEXT STEP AS TO WHAT STEPS YOU TOOK TO TRAIN OR OFFER GUIDANCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT REALLY WAS TIME.

TIME WAS OF ESSENCE.

IN THESE GROUPS, WE HAVE YOUTH FROM AGES 13 TO AGES 26.

WE´RE NOT DEALING WITH ONE GROUP OF A 14-YEAR-OLD WHO MIGHT BE ONLINE SCHOOLING.

WE ALSO ARE WITH 22, 23-YEAR-OLDS WHO ARE ALSO WORKING, JUST LIKE YOU MENTIONED.

THE WAY WE HAVE TO SET IT UP WAS SENT OUT POLLS AND SURVEYS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL.

GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WORKED FOR THEM.

ONCE WE GOT THAT RESPONSE, HERE 3:00 TO 3:30 IS THE BEST TIME.

30 MINUTES, BECAUSE TWO WORDS, ZOOM FATIGUE, IT´S REAL.

WE TRY TO USE THE BEST OF THE TIME.

>> NOW YOU ARE A STUDENT, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT´S ANOTHER WAY WHERE I´M ABLE TO ESTABLISH THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUTH.

I AM ALSO A STUDENT.

I´M A FULL-TIME STUDENT.

I´M ALSO A FULL-TIME WORKER.

I´M A FULL-TIME OLDER SIBLING TO A YOUTH WITH A DISABILITY.

THESE ARE MY OWN EXPERIENCES THAT I PULL FROM.

NOTHING REALLY GETS TO YOUTH MORE THAN BEING ABLE TO RELATE TO THEM AND TELL THEM, I GET IT.

I, TOO, GO THROUGH IT.

THIS IS WHAT I DID TO HELP.

>> RIGHT.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE REGARDING WORKING IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT?

YOU MENTIONED ZOOM FATIGUE.

THERE ARE OTHER POINTERS YOU WOULD GIVE US GUIDANCE ON?

>> SURE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO YOUTH, MYSELF AND THE YOUTH THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO, IT´S REALLY BEEN JUST ALL ABOUT MAKING THE BEST OUT OF THE TIME YOU HAVE.

WE HAVE SEEN MANY PROGRAMS WHERE IT´S BEEN AN HOUR-LONG FOR YOUTH.

THAT MIGHT WORK DEPENDING ON HOW EVERY MONTH YOU DO IT OR SO.

TRY TO KEEP IT SHORT.

TRY TO KEEP IT SIMPLE.

THE YOUTH NEED BREAKS.

THEY NEED TO RELAX.

STARING AT A SCREEN EVERY DAY IS TIRING.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST AN INDIVIDUAL WOULD ADVOCATE, SAY, WITH A TEACHER?

TEACHERS ARE CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW, LOFTY MENTORS.

YOU KNOW.

I MEAN THAT POSITIVELY.

HOW WOULD YOU AS A YOUNG PERSON SUGGEST TO ANOTHER YOUNG PERSON, IF A TEACHER IS NOT GIVING YOU WHAT YOU NEED, HOW WOULD YOU NAVIGATE THAT?

HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT BREAKING THAT BARRIER?

>> AT THAT POINT, THAT´S GOOD.

IT REALLY ALL GOES BACK TO WHO HAS BEEN SUPPORTING YOU TO THAT POINT AS A YOUTH.

FOR MYSELF, IF I NEEDED TO SPEAK TO A TEACHER OR PROFESSOR, I WOULD LOOK TOWARDS A PARENT.

I WOULD LOOK TOWARDS AN OLDER BROTHER OR SISTER.

FOR YOUTH, IF YOU ARE THERE AND YOU AREN´T GETTING HEARD OR IF YOUR TEACHER DOESN´T KNOW WHAT YOU NEED, IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE YOU STILL NEED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP, WHICH IS LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

IT´S ALWAYS THE FIRST STEP, LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT YOU NEED.

ASKING FOR TIME TO SPEAK TO THEM ONE ON ONE.

IF THAT DOESN´T WORK, ASKING FOR HELP FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GOTTEN YOU THERE, LIKE A PARENT OR SISTER OR COUSIN, WHOEVER HAS HELPED YOU IN THE PAST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK IS TRAINING IN THE COMMUNITY.

OF COURSE, THAT STYLE -- OR TRAINING ABILIIES HAVE CHANGED GIVEN THE COVID PANDEMIC.

WHAT WAS SHOCKING TO ME WAS HOW POPULAR, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORLD, THE TOPIC OF BULLYING AND HOW TO DEAL WITH BULLYING IN THE COMMUNITY.

HAS THAT BEEN AN ISSUE THAT HAS ARISEN IN YOUR LINE OF WORK AS A YOUTH COORDINATOR?

>> WE DEFINITELY HEAR ABOUT YOUTH WHO ARE -- EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ON ONLINE SCHOOLING OR WORK OR HOWEVER THAT LOOKS, THERE ARE STILL THE SAME PROBLEMS YOU SEE IN THE PAST IN PERSON.

WE HAVE SEEN IT.

IT´S REALLY, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, PROVIDING -- WE HAVE WEEKLY CHATS.

WE PROVIDE ONE, TWO, THREE -- A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO GET ON AND LEARN SOME SKILLS AND HOW TO BRING THOSE SKILLS TO THE REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE.

FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THAT, WE RECOMMEND, AS I HAVE IN THE PAST, TO JOIN OUR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SERIES EVERY MONTH.

THEY LEARN HOW TO BE CONFIDENT AND HOW TO MAKE THE RIGHT STEPS WHEN THEY ARE MEETING A CHALLENGE SUCH AS BULLYING.

THAT´S A SERIOUS CHALLENGE.

THEY NEED SOME ADVICE.

THEY NEED SOME HELP.

>> THIS YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SERIES, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT´S AVAILABLE BEYOND YOUR STATE OF NEW JERSEY?

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT´S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE JUST USE AND LIMIT.

IT´S THE SAME THING AS THE CHATS.

THEY ARE NOT LIMITED.

SOME OF THE RESOURCES WE MIGHT PRESENT MAY LOOK DIFFERENT IN YOUR STATE OR PROVINCE OR WHEREVER YOU ARE LOCATED.

HOWEVER, ALL WE SAY IS, WHEN YOU JOIN ON, ALWAYS LET US KNOW WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM SO WE CAN OFFER THE BEST HELP THAT WE CAN.

>> THAT´S EXCELLENT.

CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INFORMATION AS TO A PHONE NUMBER OR LINK OR WEBSITE THAT A PERSON CAN FIND OUT ABOUT THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SERIES AND THE CHATS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE BEST THING YOU CAN ALWAYS DO IS YOU CAN GO ON THE WEBSITE.

YOU WILL FIND A PAGE THAT SAYS, YOUTH IN THE KNOW ON THE SITE MAP.

HOW I DO IT, WHICH IS EASIER, IS GOOGLE YOUTH IN THE KNOW SPAN ADVOCACY.

THAT´S GOING TO GET YOU TO A PAGE WHERE WE HAVE OUR EVENTS AND PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, INCLUDING THE CHATS, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SERIES AND A BLOG WE HAVE THAT WE PRESENT.

A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE IN THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS EVERY THURSDAY.

>> OKAY.

SPAN IS S-P-A-N AND ADVOCACY.

DOT ORG?

>> DOT ORG.

>> OKAY.

EXCELLENT.

WHAT OTHER KINDS OF RESOURCES CAN A PERSON, YOU KNOW, UTILIZE TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE EDUCATION OR EMPLOYMENT OR HIGHER ED?

>> RIGHT.

I HAVE ACTUALLY JUST TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IS A GREAT AND NEW RESOURCE.

IT WAS STARTED AT SPAN.

IT´S THE SPAN YOUTH HUB.

THE SPAN YOUTH HUB IS ACTUALLY A BLOG THAT WE CREATED.

THE YOUTH TEAM BACK HERE AND THE ADULT ALLIES.

WHAT IT IS IS THAT THE CONVERSATIONS AND RESOURCES WE PRESENT ON WEDNESDAY, WE PRESENT ON WEDNESDAY OR IN THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SERIES OR ANY OTHER EVENT FOR YOUTH, WE TALK ABOUT IT EVERY THURSDAY.

WE PUT UP A NEW BLOG POST.

WE HAVE A RESOURCE, SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A NEWS ARTICLE BUT FOR YOUTH.

THEN WE HAVE A BUNCH OF RESOURCES THERE.

THE LINKS TO WEBSITES ABOUT WHAT THE TOPIC IS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WEEK IT WAS LEARNING FROM FAILURE.

WE HAVE A BLOG POST UP RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY CAN READ ABOUT IT AND THEY CAN GO TO THE WEB PAGE AND WATCH A VIDEO ON THE TOPIC TO LEARN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR GROUP DOES THE VIDEOS AS WELL?

>> NOT ALWAYS.

WHAT WE DO IS WE GRAB VIDEOS FROM OTHER CENTERS AS WELL.

WE HELP SHARE THEM OUT.

THERE´S ALWAYS GREAT RESOURCES ALREADY OUT THERE.

WE TRY TO CREATE SOME AS WELL.

>> GREAT, GREAT, GREAT.

FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW, I THINK I DO, TELL US WHAT A BLOG IS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT WAS MY NEXT THOUGHT.

BLOGS ARE AN ONLINE PAGE.

IT´S LIKE A WEBSITE BUT NOT EXACTLY.

WHAT IT IS IS THAT IT´S A WEBSITE YOU CAN GO ON WHERE SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF -- WE HAVE ANOTHER TEAM MEMBER WHO WRITES THE BLOG POSTS.

YOU WRITE A BLOG POST AS IN SOMETHING ABOUT A TOPIC THAT YOU WANT TO SEE OR READ ONLINE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE BLOGS ABOUT COOKING.

EVERY WEEK THEY MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING ABOUT A NEW RECIPE.

OUR BLOG IS ABOUT YOUTH AND ADVOCACY.

EVERY WEEK WE HAVE SOMETHING ABOUT ADVOCACY AND HELPING YOUTH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I MEAN, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BULLYING.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER TOPICS THAT SPECIFICALLY PERCOLATE QUITE A BIT WITHIN YOUR WORK AS A YOUTH COORDINATOR?

>> ONE OF THE BIG ONES THAT WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT IS MENTAL HEALTH.

MENTAL HEALTH IS SOMETHING A LOT OF YOUTH ARE STRUGGLING WITH.

I ALWAYS SAY, IT´S SOMETHING WE STRUGGLE WITH.

I HAVE MY OWN STRUGGLES.

SO HAS MY YOUNGER BROTHER.

NOW IN THIS VIRTUAL WORLD, THERE´S NOT A LOT OF SCIENCE BEHIND A COMPUTER SCREEN, ESPECIALLY IF YOUTH ARE BEHIND A COMPUTER SCREEN IN CLASS.

IT´S HARD TO TELL.

IT´S INCREASED.

WE HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.

BESIDES PROVIDING RESOURCES, WE ALWAYS LET THOSE YOUTH KNOW, WE REACH OUT TO THEM AND ASK THEM HOW THEY ARE AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING AND WHAT CAN WE PROVIDE TO HELP.

THAT´S A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT HAS COME UP A LOT RECENTLY.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE SO.

I SUSPECT IT´S A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON, I´M SORRY TO SAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

IN YOUR OWN WORDS, HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE THE WORD ADVOCACY?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

>> THAT´S A GOOD QUESTION.

ADVOCACY IS REALLY GETTING WHAT YOU WANT UNDERSTOOD OR HELPED WITH BY ANOTHER PERSON OR WHOEVER THE OTHER PERSON IS.

FOR ME, WHATEVER I NEED HELP WITH, ADVOCACY IS MAKING SURE SOMEONE ELSE KNOWS I NEED HELP WITH IT AND THEN GETTING THE HELP.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

IT´S REALLY JUST SPEAKING UP TO GET HELP FOR YOURSELF.

>> OKAY.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER TECHNIQUES YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO AN INDIVIDUAL TO GET THE KINDS OF SUPPORT THEY NEED?

>> THAT´S GOOD.

THE FIRST STEP THERE IS GET CONNECTED.

I KNOW WE ARE HERE AND WE LIKE TO GIVE A LOT OF RESOURCES.

WHAT I WANT TO TELL THE YOUTH IS, USE THOSE RESOURCES.

IT´S NOT UNCOMMON FOR MANY YOUTH TO GET ALL THESE RESOURCES AND NOT JOIN ON AND NOT BE A PART OF IT AND NOT TAKE PART.

THE FIRST STEP FOR YOUTH IS TO GET CONNECTED.

I KNOW IT´S VERY NERVE-RACKING.

I KNOW YOU GET ANXIOUS AND YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT.

YOU NEED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO USE THOSE RESOURCES AND GET CONNECTED WHERE YOU CAN.

>> WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THIS KIND OF CALLING?

THAT TAKES A LOT OF, I THINK, COURAGE AND A STRONG SENSE OF SELF TO DO THE KIND OF WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THIS PLACE?

>> THAT´S WONDERFUL.

THAT´S A GOOD QUESTION.

THE REASON I´M HERE WHERE I AM NOW IS IT REALLY GOES BACK TO WHERE I INTERNED AND I STARTED LEARNING ABOUT SPAN WHEN I STARTED WORKING WITH THEM, THE SPAN PARENT ADVOCACY NETWORK WHERE I AM NOW.

BEFORE THAT, ADVOCACY HAS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE BEFORE I KNEW WHAT ADVOCACY WAS.

AS A YOUNG CHILD COMING FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, I HAVE HAD TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK FOR MY PARENTS WHO HAD VERY LIMITED ENGLISH.

I HAVE ALSO TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK UP FOR MYSELF WHEN I NEEDED SOMETHING AT SCHOOL, WHEN I NEEDED TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE FOR THE FIRST TIME, BEING THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO DO SO.

ALL THIS IS NEW TO ME.

MY THOUGHT IS, I´M NOT THE FIRST AND I´M NOT THE LAST.

BUT THOSE ARE GOING THROUGH IT NOW WHO FEEL LIKE THEY NEED HELP, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE AND HELP THEM AND TEACH THEM HOW TO SPEAK UP.

THE HARD WAYS I HAD TO LEARN MYSELF.

>> WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU MET AS AN INDIVIDUAL LEARNING TO SPEAK FOR YOURSELF?

>> I IMAGINE IT´S THE SAME CHALLENGE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MEETING.

IT´S DOING SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOT KNOWING WHERE TO GO.

FOR ME, APPLYING FOR SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME, JOINING A SPORT FOR THE FIRST TIME, THESE ARE THINGS THAT MANY YOUTH MAY NOT THINK EVEN ANOTHER SECOND ABOUT.

FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME, LIKE MANY OTHER YOUTH, DOING -- JOINING A SPORT FOR THE FIRST TIME, MAKING FRIENDS WHEN YOU COME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY FOR THE FIRST TIME, THESE ARE NERVE-RACKING THINGS.

THEY CAN CHANGE YOU.

THAT IS -- THOSE WERE MY CHALLENGES.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH THEM AND HELP OTHER YOUTH WHO ARE GOING THROUGH IT AS WELL.

>> HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST CAME TO NEW JERSEY OR WHEREVER YOU FIRST WENT TO SCHOOL?

>> YEAH.

WHEN I CAME TO NEW JERSEY, I WAS 3 YEARS OLD.

BEING 3 AND COMING FROM YOUR COUNTRY, YOU ALREADY HAVE SOME MEMORY OF YOUR COUNTRY IS AND THE FAMILY THERE.

WE LEFT IF NOT ALL OUR FAMILY BESIDES MY PARENTS.

THEY SPOKE NO ENGLISH.

I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND DO EVERYTHING FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THEY SUPPORTED ME.

BUT ONCE I GOT OLDER AND I BECAME AROUND 8, 10 YEARS OLD, I BECAME A TEEN, YOU HEAR ABOUT COLLEGE, YOU HEAR ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOUR FUTURE, TRANSITION AGE, THAT´S WHERE THINGS GOT A LITTLE ROUGH.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS?

WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR YOURSELF IN THE FUTURE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT´S VERY INTERESTING TO ASK THAT QUESTION.

I DO HAVE AN ANSWER NOW.

I DIDN´T HAVE ANY ANSWERS BEFORE.

IF YOU DON´T KNOW UNTIL WE KNOW.

>> RIGHT.

>> I HAVE SEEN WHAT POLICY CAN DO, WHAT IT CAN BE A DIFFERENCE FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS A VOICE IN THE WAYS THE LAWS WORK THAT ARE MORE HELPFUL FOR YOUTH AND THE WAYS THAT SOME LOCAL LAWS, AS IN WAYS TO GET INTO COLLEGE OR WAYS TO JOIN AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, THERE ARE A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS THERE AND A LOT OF LAWS AND POLICIES THAT NEED CHANGE.

THEY NEED TO CATCH UP WITH THE TIMES.

I LIKE TO SAY, I AM INTERESTED IN GOING INTO POLICY MANY I´M STUDYING FOR PUBLIC POLICY.

TO GO INTO A PLACE WHERE I NO LONGER ONLY GIVE A VOICE TO YOUTH BUT I AM THE VOICE FOR YOUTH.

I CAN PUT IN CHANGES FOR THEM.

>> WOW.

I DIDN´T KNOW WHAT KIND OF ANSWER TO EXPECT.

POLICY CHANGE, THAT SOUNDS LIKE SUCH A SNOOZER.

I THINK THAT´S FANTASTIC.

>> I HOPE SO.

>> HE WANTS TO CHANGE POLICY.

I LOVE IT.

GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO CHANGE.

I GUESS, FIRST, LET´S DEFINE, WHAT DO WE MEAN BY POLICY?

FOR SOME PEOPLE, THAT´S AN ABSTRACT WORD.

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY POLICY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE BEST WAY I SOMETIMES LIKE PUTTING THIS IS, ESPECIALLY IN A YOUTH EYES, IF YOU ARE A YOUTH AND YOU WANT TO JOIN A SPORT OR THERE´S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO BUT THEY TELL YOU YOU CAN´T DO IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE A DISABILITY, YOU CAN´T DO IT BECAUSE IT´S JUST NOT EASY FOR YOU TO BE THERE, IT´S NOT EASY FOR THEM TO HANDLE YOUTH WITH DISABILITY, THAT´S NOT HOW IT SHOULD BE.

THERE´S NOT A POLICY IN PLACE.

WHICH MEANS THERE´S NOT A SET RULE OR WAY TO GO ABOUT IT ON PAPER THAT TELLS THEM, THEY CAN´T DO THAT.

IF YOU HAVE A YOUTH WITH DISABILITY, NOT EVEN JUST A YOUTH WITH DISABILITY, BUT SOMETIMES A YOUTH WHO DOESN´T SPEAK ENGLISH OR DOESN´T SPEAK THE MAIN LANGUAGE.

YOU CAN´T DO THAT.

YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO INCLUDE THOSE YOUTH.

THAT´S WHAT POLICY IS.

IT´S MAKING SURE THAT WHAT IS ON PAPER ALSO COMES TO YOUR PROBLEM OR YOUR SITUATION.

THERE´S HELP THERE FOR YOU.

>> THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER EXAMPLES OF WHAT POLICIES NEED TO BE CHANGED?

>> YES.

THAT´S A GOOD ONE.

MANY POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED IS, LET´S SAY, HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, YOU MIGHT HAVE A LOT OF PARENTS AND YOUTH WHO COME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY.

AND THERE ARE SOME JUST SIMPLE SERVICES THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO THEM BECAUSE IT´S NOT SOMETHING THAT´S HAPPENED BEFORE IN THE NUMBERS BEFORE.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A FAMILY AND A YOUTH WHO WANT TO GO INTO A SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THEY MIGHT TELL YOU, WELL, YOU CAN´T GET INTO THIS SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU HAVEN´T -- HERE IS A BIG TOPIC, VACCINES.

YOU DON´T HAVE ALL YOUR VACCINES.

YOU CAN´T COME INTO THE SCHOOL.

WHAT IS IN PLACE TO TEACH THE SCHOOL THAT IF A PERSON COMES FROM ANOTHER PLACE AND THEY DON´T HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO GET IN, HOW IS THE SCHOOL GOING TO HELP THEM?

THAT´S WHAT POLICY REALLY IS.

IT´S A WAY TO TELL THE SCHOOL FOR THESE GROUPS, YOU NEED TO DO THIS.

YOU CAN HELP THEM.

NOT JUST TO EACH HIS OWN AND FIGURE IT OUT.

THOSE ARE POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING TO NEW JERSEY WHO NEED THOSE SERVICES.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WRITE THIS ON PAPER AND GET IT TO THEM.

>> THAT´S EXCELLENT.

DID YOU SEE YOURSELF -- FIRST OF ALL, WHEN WILL YOU FINISH SCHOOL, WHAT YEAR?

>> RIGHT NOW, I AM GOING FOR THE YEAR 2023 OF MAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU WILL HAVE A DEGREE IN PUBLIC POLICY, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE BEYOND THAT FOR YOURSELF?

>> IT´S REALLY CONTINUING TO WORK.

I WOULD ALWAYS LOVE TO EXTEND THE OPPORTUNITY AND TIME HERE AT SPAN ESPECIALLY.

IF I CAN DO THAT WORK, EVEN GREATER AMOUNTS AND HIGHER POSITION, WHERE I´M THE ONE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT POLICY BUT PUTTING THAT POLICY INTO PLACE, THAT´S WHAT I REALLY SEE.

THAT´S MY VISION AS A YOUTH TO BE THE ONE TO HEAR FROM YOUTH AND PUT THOSE POLICIES OR LAWS OR RULES, ANOTHER WAY TO SAY IT, IN PLACE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A PERSON SUCH AS YOURSELF WHO WOULD LIKE TO DEVELOP BETTER ADVOCACY SKILLS?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

>> RIGHT.

I WOULD ALWAYS TELL YOU, IF YOU HEAR ME AND YOU ARE LISTENING TO WHAT I AM SAYING, I HAVE NOT GOTTEN HERE THE DAY BEFORE AND SAID -- THIS ISN´T ME FIVE YEARS AGO.

IT TAKES TIME.

IT TAKES TIME.

IT TAKES MENTORSHIP.

IT TAKES -- SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO THAT CAN HELP YOU REACH YOUR GOALS.

ASK QUESTIONS.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, IF YOU ARE CONFUSED, IF YOU FEEL ALONE, IF YOU ARE ANXIOUS, ASK FOR HELP, ASK FOR QUESTIONS, GET CONNECTED, MAKE FRIENDS AND FIND THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR LIFE.

>> EXCELLENT.

IF YOU CAN REPEAT HOW SOMEBODY CAN GET CONNECTED WITH YOU.

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WILL SHARE MY EMAIL.

THAT´S THE BEST WAY TO REACH FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT RESOURCES OR JUST TO TALK IN GENERAL.

MY EMAIL IS JMORA-VALVERDE@SPANADVOCACY.ORG.

>> IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TALKING TO YOU.

I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH DURING THIS TALK.

I HOPE THIS WON´T BE THE LAST TIME.

I´M GOING TO SAY, I REMEMBER WHEN, HE IS NOW IN POLICY.

WHO KNOWS WHERE THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON OR NIGHT OR MORNING, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TAKE CARE.

BYE-BYE.