Teen Talk with Jacky Gonzalez
This blog first appeared on the National Health Foundation website. For its first-ever ‘Teen Talk’ and in recognition of September’s Sexual Health Awareness Month in 2021, National Health Foundation chatted with Jacky Gonzalez, a youth consultant and participant in NHF’s Be a STAR program and activist for reproductive rights.
Through its partnership with ETR, NHF is able to work with trailblazing youth activists; Gonzalez is a co-founder of Downey’s Period Plan, a grassroots campaign that serves as consultants with the goal of building upon its Be a STAR program and aspire to improve period equity by installing menstrual care products in public spaces throughout Downey. Our conversation explores Gonzalez’s experience in the Be a STAR program, the importance of sexual health, and how other young people can get involved in activism.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am currently a senior in high school, hoping to go to college and major in Psychology. My favorite things to do are to workout, journal, and go on night cruises throughout LA.
Describe your experience in the Be a STAR Program. What were the three biggest takeaways for you?
‘Be a STAR’ was an eye-opening experience for me. I thought I was educated on topics, but ‘Be a STAR’ made me more aware of different topics. Three of my biggest takeaways from the program include (1) being aware of your reproductive rights, (2) being respectful to others when it comes to identity or sexual actions, (3) and not be afraid to ask questions about sexual and reproductive rights.
Tell us about your experience as a Youth Consultant for NHF.
Being a Youth Consultant for NHF was an amazing experience. I absolutely loved bringing ideas into the curriculum, knowing that it was being used positively. My favorite part of the program was bouncing ideas with the other Youth Consultants. Our discussions would go on for hours, which definitely motivated all of us to put our best effort into the program.
[September] is Sexual Health Awareness Month. What does sexual and reproductive health mean to you, and why is it important?
Sexual and reproductive health means having the knowledge to advocate for yourself. Knowing about your own health and the rights you have for your body allows us to protect ourselves in different ways. Sexual and reproductive health is important to me because at a young age, I experienced sexual assault. Back then, I was uneducated about my own body and what I could have done in that particular situation. So, to be able to educate other youth about sexual and reproductive health will allow more teens to be educated about their bodies and be prepared for almost any situation regarding their bodies.
Tell us about your activism work currently.
Currently, I am in a group called Downey’s Period Plan, where we advocate for period equity in our community. Over the summer, we started reaching out to small, local businesses in our community, asking them to place feminine products, such as pads and tampons, into their restrooms. As a result, we have been able to reach out to two local businesses to install these feminine products into the restroom. But we are also talking with our local high school to begin filling up the pads dispenser inside the girl's restroom.
How and when did your interest in reproductive health and period equity first begin, and what sparked that interest?
My interest in reproductive health and period equity started this year. I was in a difficult place mentally at the beginning of the year. My sister had sent me the ‘Be a STAR’ program flyer, and I decided to join the program because I wanted something to look forward to. As the ‘Be a STAR’ meetings went on, I became more interested and noticed a passion for reproductive health because I was able to connect it back to situations in my own life. My interest in period equity definitely started from the ‘Be a STAR’ program and being an NHF consultant, especially when it came to talking about YPAR (Youth Participatory Action Research) projects. I remember Chad talking about YPAR projects and was sad when we didn’t have enough time to start our own YPAR project. But once I had the chance to start a YPAR project, I jumped onto period equity because it connected to reproductive health, which is where I believe I have the strongest knowledge about.
Do you have any final advice for aspiring youth activists or comments about recent participation in the Be a STAR program?
My advice for aspiring youth activists is not to be afraid to start advocating. As activists, we all need to start somewhere small and then grow. Six months ago, I didn’t think I would have accomplished what I have with Downey’s Period Plan. I always wanted to see change but was always afraid about where to start. I am grateful that I could step out of my comfort zone and be an advocate to educate youth on topics that aren’t shared as much as they should be. As for ‘Be a STAR’, I’m excited for all the new teens who get to learn the curriculum. The Youth Consultants and I put our best effort into making sure that the teens coming into the program get the best information about sexual and reproductive health. I can’t wait to see what the youth can accomplish in this program.
Previous Posts
JUNE 13, 2023
Getting the Conversation Started: 5 Important Topics and How To Talk About Them
Discussing sensitive topics like underage drinking, drug use, and depression can be uncomfortable, but it's crucial to have these conversations in order to protect their well-being. In this blog, YEN will explore five important issues that young people face today and provide tips on how to approach these topics with sensitivity and care.
VIEW POST
MAY 16, 2023
Using Ice Breakers to Help Young People Build Trust and Camaraderie
Say goodbye to awkward introductions and hello to meaningful interactions! Whether you're an educator, parent, or mentor, these icebreakers can help to create a meaningful, positive experience for the young people you are working with.
VIEW POST
APRIL 24, 2023
How to Compensate Young People Fairly and Equitably
Young people should be paid for the time they spend advising and sharing their expertise. Here are some best practices for organizations and agencies working to compensate young people fairly and equitably.
VIEW POST
MARCH 19, 2023
Why Arts Should Be a Part of Your Youth Engagement Strategy
Research has confirmed time and time again that participation in the arts leads to positive outcomes for young people, both in terms of their cognitive development and their mental health and well-being. If your organization is ready to incorporate the arts into your programs, here are some ways to start.
VIEW POST
FEBRUARY 3, 2023
The Case for Creating an Inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Educational Environment
Sex education content often focuses on straight, cisgender young people, but this ignores LGBTQ+ youth. Using language that removes gendered terms to talk about bodies and the sexual things that people may do with them helps include and respect people of all genders and sexual orientations.
VIEW POST
JANUARY 13, 2023
7 Reasons Why Your Organization Should Work With Young People in 2023
Should your organization work with young people? The data says YES! Here are 7 reasons why having young leaders in your organization can make your youth engagement programs more successful.
VIEW POST
NOVEMBER 28, 2022
12 Podcasts About Youth Empowerment & Engagement to Listen to Today
Podcasts are a great way to connect, learn, and get inspired. With access to podcasts on the go through apps like Spotify, apple music, and Bluetooth streaming, it's more accessible than ever to tap into new ideas and voices wherever you are. We have compiled a list of incredible podcasts for educators and young people. These podcasts feature youth voices and ideas about youth empowerment, youth engagement, community building, and much more.
VIEW POST
OCTOBER 28, 2022
Developing Young Leaders in Your Organization
Everyone benefits when young people are engaged and encouraged to be in leadership roles. Adults benefit by enhancing their own competencies, learning to better understand and value youth, and increasing their commitment and energy to their organizations. Building leadership and engagement in young people will create great habits that will last a lifetime. Here are just a few ways you can begin to develop young leaders.
VIEW POST
OCTOBER 7, 2022
Preventing Bullying in the Classroom: 10 Proactive Tips for Educators
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to focus on and raise awareness on bullying. National Bullying Prevention Month was founded to help transform a society that accepts bullying into a society that recognizes that bullying must – and can – be addressed through education and support. We are sharing some tips and resources for spotting and dealing with bullying in the classroom and how to create a safe space for students.
VIEW POST
SEPTEMBER 8, 2022
AHI Presentation 2022: Innovating for Meaningful Youth Engagement Across Sexual and Reproductive Health Interventions
YEN Learning & Engagement Specialist Azzia Roberts presented at the Adolescent Health Initiative 2022 Annual Conference in early August. The presentation, titled “The Youth Engagement Network: Innovating for Meaningful Youth Engagement Across Sexual and Reproductive Health Interventions,” gave an overview of the YEN’s innovative approach to addressing meaningful youth engagement in sexual and reproductive health programs.
VIEW POST
SEPTEMBER 6, 2022
Youth Engagement Resources for the Classroom
School planning has been well underway for educators. With the first day behind us or just around the corner, the YEN team wanted to share some tips and resources that may prove valuable for educators wanting to improve and sustain youth engagement.
VIEW POST
JULY 25, 2022
Engaging With Youth on Social Media
A 2018 study by Hopelab and Well Being Trust found that 93% of youth aged 14-22 use social media, with most being active online daily. Young people aren't just socializing online; they are researching and reaching out about important topics like personal health. Here are some tips for engaging with youth on social media!
VIEW POST
JULY 7, 2022
Why We Should Be Engaging Youth in Our Communities
Engaging youth in our communities is more critical than ever as a broader range of issues begin to affect the lives of young people. For any society to become genuinely welcoming and vibrant and for youth to reach their full potential, young people must be able to commit to, participate in and influence their communities. Learn About Why to Engage Youth in Our Communities!
VIEW POST
MAY 27, 2022
4 YEN Partners Who Are Engaging Youth in Creative Ways
Youth engagement is a trending topic on agendas in 2022, but how are organizations putting it into action? Learn more about how 4 YEN partners are engaging youth in creative ways within their programs and resources.
VIEW POST
MARCH 14, 2022
Why Social Media Should Be a Part of Your Youth Engagement Plan
With 90% percent of young people ages 13-17 reporting to have used social media, it only makes sense that some of the content you create should include their voice. In addition to being an essential space for information sharing, youth engagement on social networks can help young people feel informed, empowered, and represented.
VIEW POST
MARCH 10, 2022
5 Key Takeaways from Flourish Agenda's Healing-Centered Engagement Course
ETR's YEN (Youth Engagement Network) recently participated in a healing-centered engagement course with Flourish Agenda. The self-paced training allowed YEN team members to get certified as healing-centered engagement practitioners, an asset-based and culturally-rooted approach to healing and well-being for young people of color and their adult allies.
VIEW POST
JANUARY 28, 2022
Teen Talk with Jacky Gonzalez
For its first-ever ‘Teen Talk’ and in recognition of September’s Sexual Health Awareness Month in 2021, National Health Foundation chatted with Jacky Gonzalez, a youth consultant and participant in NHF’s Be a STAR program and activist for reproductive rights.
VIEW POST
JANUARY 25, 2022
Five Ways That Your Organization Can Involve Youth
Organizations that involve youth as partners in making decisions that affect them are more likely to be effective at engaging the population and, therefore, to have a more significant impact. Workshops and empowerment training too often only focus on telling young people what to do and fail to consider that, through their experiences, young people can provide valuable knowledge to the decision-making process.
VIEW POST
JANUARY 11, 2022
Four Youth Engagement Resolutions for the New Year
At ETR’s Youth Engagement Network (YEN), we get excited about learning and discovering new approaches for meaningfully engaging young people. Using our wins and insights over the last year and a half, we are highlighting four resolutions that might make you rethink how your organization engages young people in 2022.
VIEW POST
NOVEMBER 2, 2021
Introducing YEN: Trauma-informed, youth-centered, research-driven.
ETR's Youth Engagement Network (YEN) is a 3-year project funded by the Office of Population Affairs aiming to increase the number of young people who effectively engage in sexual health programs and services to promote optimal health, prevent teen pregnancy, and reduce sexually transmitted infections (STI).
VIEW POST
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
Principles of youth engagement
Youth engagement is an intentional partnership between youth and an organization where young people are involved in all parts of an organization, from decision-making to implementation.
VIEW POST
NOVEMBER 12, 2021
How YEN is helping partners create a roadmap for change
A theory of change (TOC) is a comprehensive description of why a particular way of working will be effective, showing how change happens in the short, medium, and long term to achieve the intended impact.
VIEW POST
NOVEMBER 17, 2021
Three ways for young people to be involved in organizations
ETR's Youth Engagement Network (YEN) envisions that all young people, and particularly those who experience systemic marginalization or discrimination, have the ability and opportunity to be meaningfully and equitably engaged in the programs, policies, and systems that affect their lives and communities.
VIEW POST
