We recently conducted an interview with Asmaa, who serves as the Program Manager of the Youth Advisory Council at UCSD.
1. What inspired you to join the youth advisory council (YAC), and what is the purpose of the council?
Working with youth is important to me because they represent the future of our society, and investing in their education, development, and well-being is crucial for building a better world. I have worked with young people in the past and have always felt a sense of fulfillment in the possibility that I may be having a positive impact. The purpose of the council is to engage in advocacy and projects planned and led by youth leaders where the members work to change the social and environmental factors that impact health.
2. How do you recruit members for the council, and what qualifications do you look for in potential members?
Because our program is based in City Heights, we begin our recruitment by connecting with the local high schools in City Heights and surrounding areas. Our recruitment process involves explaining the program and any questions that youth have. To formally apply to the program, we ask potential members to complete an application where we ask them a variety of questions such as their interest/reasons for joining the program and questions that seek to understand what they believe their community needs to be healthy and the role that youth can have to achieve this.
3. What kind of projects or initiatives have the youth advisory council undertaken in the past, and what impact have they had on the community?
Every year, the group decides what priorities they would like to focus on and address. Two examples of projects that they have completed are fundraising for a local organization that works to make a positive impact on their focus area, as well as an advocacy project on the realities of school meals and how students would like to see them improved. YAC members were trained on the fundamentals of legislation related to school meals, including learning the legislative process of how a bill becomes a law and how nutrition standards in schools are not immune from whims in the political landscape.
4. How do you ensure that the youth advisory council's work aligns with the goals and values of UCSD Health or the community?
It is crucial for me to incorporate collaborative decision-making and transparent communication with our youth members. The youth who join YAC are representatives for their community and as valuable members of the community, the youth speaking out and sharing their perspectives is something I rely on when ensuring the work aligns with their goals and the goals of the overall community.
5. How do you support and mentor youth members of the council to ensure they have a positive and meaningful experience?
My top goal for our meetings is to actively involve YAC members in decision-making processes and ensure that their opinions are valued and respected. I strive to provide opportunities for them to lead discussions, propose initiatives, and present their ideas to their peers. The purpose of doing this is to encourage a culture of inclusivity and open dialogue where diverse perspectives are welcomed and hopefully ensure that the youth have a positive and meaningful experience.
6. What challenges have you faced in managing the youth advisory council, and how have you addressed them?
One primary challenge I have faced is inconsistent participation. Because our current structure does not make meeting attendance a mandatory requirement and we simply encourage youth to attend to reduce pressure, we have inconsistent attendance. This leads to members being uninformed with the project’s progress or feeling disconnected from the group.
7. What growth do you wish to see within the youth advisory council itself?
I hope to see our resources and network expand where we have we have academic support such as experts/professors regularly supporting our work, getting access to different sites and facilities, and more opportunities for the youth to learn and experience.
8. What is something that most people don't know about you that you would like to share?
Some people may not know that I have a 2-year-old daughter who has been motivating me even more to continue this type of valuable youth work. I also hope that caring leaders are continually making themselves accessible to the youth who need them.
For more information about YAC, please visit the Instagram page by clicking here. Additionally, you can read the 2022 annual report to gain further insights into YAC's activities and accomplishments.
