ANNOUNCING

The PSY National Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Initiative

Meet the 2022 National Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Initiative Leaders

 

WHO IS THIS FOR?

The Point Source Youth (PSY) National Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Initiative seeks QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color) youth leaders and advocates driven by the determination to disrupt disparities and close gaps in services for youth experiencing homelessness who are living with HIV, and/or youth most at-risk. These change-makers will collaborate with 5 local organizations to launch new youth empowerment and mentorship programs across the country.

If you’re a young adult (30 years old or younger) who is passionate about grassroots power and local change— this initiative is for you!

 

  • This initiative will provide participating Youth Advocates with:

    • Professional growth and experience in leading program development and youth engagement.

    • Opportunities offered through the program (e.g., participation at conferences, paid speaking engagements, working with other young people to create youth-driven solutions, etc.).

    • Compensation for general participation and for speaking engagements ($115 per hour).

    • Engage in ongoing anti-racist, anti-adultism, trauma informed and harm reduction trainings.

    • Support in advocating for more youth mentorship programs, better access to HIV care for QTBIPOC youth, and advocacy tools for youth-driven housing interventions that disrupt disparities.

    General Timeline: April 2022 - April 2023 (opportunity to extend further).

  • To be eligible to apply for the National Youth Empowerment & Mentorship Initiative, applicants must:

    • Be 30 years old or younger

    • Demonstrate a commitment to the goals of the program

    • Have lived experience relevant to the focus areas of the program (e.g., youth who have experienced homelessness, youth who are BIPOC and/or queer or trans, youth who are living with HIV)

    • Have an interest in your local community/city/state

    • Have an interest in advocacy related to HIV and youth homelessness

    • Have an interest in youth mentorship

    The application process will prioritize young people who:

    • Are from and/or living in communities where HIV rates for Black and Brown queer youth are the highest.

    • Are connected to a local organization already conducting, or interested in starting, a youth mentorship initiative or HIV work (in particular organizations conducting peer navigation)

  • Below are the participation expectations for national youth advocates:

    • Attendance in one/two virtual meetings per month (2.5 hours max per month).

    • Participation in at least one speaking engagement coordinated by PSY including PSY annual conference, training, workshops, community event, etc.

    • Participation in 2 annual dedicated coaching sessions by Dr. Stacey Ault.

    • Contribution and collaboration on the creation of at least 1 of the following informational and instructional materials produced by the initiative:

      • National HIV Youth Homelessness Mentorship Initiative Handbook.

      • 1 animated video.

      • 4 conference trainings.

      • Web-based resource library

    • Participation in feedback and research processes including interviews, surveys, etc.

    • Commitment to advocating for more youth leadership, empowerment and mentorship programs that provide supportive networks, better access to HIV care for QTBIPOC youth, and advocacy tools for youth-driven housing interventions.

 

about the initiative

The Point Source Youth (PSY) National Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Initiative, funded by ViiV Healthcare, will empower Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (QTBIPOC) young leaders to step into their power, train, and advocate for more leadership, peer navigation and/or mentorship programs for QTBIPOC youth.

 

The initiative will consist of 6 National Youth Advocates that will collaborate with 5 local organizations to launch 1-3 new youth empowerment and mentorship programs. In year 1, the initiative will recruit 50 youth mentors who will lead peer navigation, leadership training, and support groups around the country (virtually and/or in-person).

 

Learn More about the Application Process

Learn more about our two initiatives, supported by ViiV Healthcare’s positive Action Community Grant Program. Hear the PSY team breakdown the RFP process, how to meaningfully center youth collaboration, timelines to keep in mind and more!

ACCESS THE INFO SESSION

FAQs

 

  • Join Point Source Youth’s National Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Initiatives online webinar to ask questions live, and hear more about this opportunity on March 24, 2022, at 1:00pm EST / 10:00am PST.

  • The PSY National Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Initiative’s goal is for more QTBIPOC youth to have access to a community of care including: supportive networks, leadership and mentorship opportunities as well as advocacy tools for youth-driven housing interventions.

    To be eligible to apply for PSY’s National Youth Empowerment & Mentorship Initiative, applicants must:

    • Be 30 years old or younger

    • Demonstrate a commitment to advocating for more youth leadership, empowerment and mentorship programs that provide supportive networks, better access to HIV care for QTBIPOC youth, and advocacy tools for youth-driven housing interventions.

    • Have lived experience relevant to the focus areas of the initiative (e.g., youth who have experienced homelessness, youth who are BIPOC and/or queer or trans, youth who are living with HIV)

    • Have an interest in your local community/city/state

    • Have an interest in advocacy related to HIV and youth homelessness

    • Have an interest in youth mentorship

    The application process will prioritize young people who:

    • Are from and/or living in communities where HIV rates for Black and Brown queer youth are the highest

    • Are connected to a local organization already conducting, or interested in starting, a youth mentorship initiative or HIV work (in particular organizations conducting peer navigation)

    • Attendance in one/two virtual meetings on average per month (2.5 hours max per month)

    • Participation in at least one speaking engagement coordinated by PSY including PSY annual conference, training, workshops, community event, etc.

    • Participation in 2 annual dedicated coaching sessions by Dr. Stacey Ault

    • Contribution and collaboration on the creation of at least 1 of the following informational and instructional materials produced by the initiative:

      • National HIV Youth Homelessness Mentorship Initiative Handbook

      • 1 animated video

      • 4 conference trainings

      • Web-based resource library

    • Participation in feedback and research processes including interviews, surveys, etc.

  • National Youth Advocate Initiative Timeline: April 2022 - April 2023 (opportunity to extend further)

    • Compensation for general participation and for speaking engagements $115 per hour

    • Total estimated amount for youth participation: $3,450

    • ($115 per hour x 2.5 hrs per month x 12 months) = $3,450

  • National Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Initiative Application Launch

    • March 15, 2022

    Youth Application Webinar

    • March 24, 2022

    Youth Application Deadline

    • April 15, 2022

    6 National Youth Advocates Notified

    • May 20, 2022

 

REACH OUT TO US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS

PSY’s Associate Director Andrew Gutierrez III, is the contact lead for the National Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Initiative. If you have any questions or concerns, click the “Contact Us” button to be connected with Andrew, or email pafy@pointsourceyouth.org. Point Source Youth will post all incoming FAQs on our website for your convenience.

 
 
 
 

 This initiative presented by Point Source Youth is supported by ViiV Healthcare’s Positive Action Community Grant Program