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Lifting Immigrant Youth Voices

Immigrant Youth Advocates (formerly known as the Mental Health Advocates) is NJCIC’s leadership development and narrative change program. It brings together first- and second-generation immigrants from high school to early twenties to start conversations in their communities on issues affecting mental health and overall wellbeing. NJCIC aims to create a safe space for immigrant youth to explore all the intricacies of the immigrant experience.

The Immigrant Youth Advocates work includes:

  • Migrants with Migraines: A regular youth-led podcast, planned, recorded, edited, and released by the advocates on all major podcast platforms 

  • Social media presence @migrantswithmigraines on IG and TikTok.

  • Workshops to gain an understanding of political processes, policy frameworks, and engagement in media advocacy with guest speakers

  • Advocacy and how to lift concerns and address challenges in Access to Education, Justice, and Health Equity.

For more information about this program or if you want to be a guest speaker, contact Alysia Colon at acolon@njcic.org.

Meet NJCIC’s Immigrant Youth Advocates

  • Alley

    Alley is all about blending advocacy work with social media to make her community more accessible and inclusive. Alley's on a mission to create positive change, and her innovative approach is making waves!

  • Marlene

    Marlene taps into her experience with mental health to raise awareness. Her mission is to ensure immigrant youth that they are not alone in their struggles and, through the podcast platform, empower them to overcome challenges.

  • Angie

    Back for her second year as a youth advocate. She is committed to intentionality and accessibility and creating an impactful community for immigrant youth.

  • Iriving

    As a first-generation immigrant, Irving is inspired by his fellow advocates, and is driven to create positive change within his community. His experiences have fueled his commitment to empowering others, advocating for social justice, and fostering a more inclusive environment.

  • Alisson

    Alisson's understanding and perspective are deeply informed by her country's history of U.S. imperialism, gang violence, and colonization. She aims to break free from the culture of silence and survival that many immigrants adopt, striving to create an environment that humanizes immigrants and their experiences.

  • Melissa

    Melissa is driven by her firsthand experiences with the challenges of the immigration system in her family's daily life. She is dedicated to empowering her community and making a positive impact.

  • Albaraa

    Albaraa’s personal experience drives his advocacy for holistic investment in immigrant communities. As an advocate, he hopes to strengthen thecollective voice and invest his time and energy into something greater than himself, giving back to those who feel unheard!

  • Karla

    Located in Toms River, Karla is motivated by her desire to help underrepresented students reach their potential, personally and professionally. Having encountered challenges of her own throughout college, she wants to help students overcome and thrive.

  • Eman

    Eman's work experience and journey have shaped what she want to pursue in the future — she aspires to be a lawyer and work with schools and non-profits to eradicate the barriers that prevent many immigrants from achieving their dreams!

  • Jose

    What drives Jose is his love of his family and his passion for helping his community which has helped shape him into who he is today.

  • Rosa

    As a first-gen undocumented immigrant, Rosa experienced firsthand the challenges her community faced due to language and social barriers. Throughout school, she has been a strong advocate for raising awareness about issues faced by undocumented immigrants.