YMHC Leadership Fellowship
The YMHC Leadership Fellows Program will offer selected members a unique platform to cultivate their leadership skills, showcase their achievements, collaborate with peers across the nation, and network with mental health experts and ambassadors who champion youth mental health.
Youth Mental Health Corps Leadership Fellows Program Video
Meet our incredible Leadership Fellows from the 2024-25 program year. A group of dedicated YMHC members who are not only serving youth in schools and communities across the country, but also preparing to take the next step in their own professional journeys. We’re proud to highlight their voices and their stories!
What's in it for you?
YMHC Leadership Fellows Program offers a unique opportunity to step into leadership roles within the YMHC.
Create a Sustainable Youth-Driven Network
Participate in a network of youth fellows to share resources, experiences, and build mutually beneficial relationships
Co-Design Leadership Fellows Program
Help design format and structure of Leadership Fellows Program
Brainstorm engaging and practical activities for personal and professional growth of participants
Participate in feedback loops & iterative improvement
Share on-going feedback via surveys and group reflection
Participate in adaptation and adjustment of the Leadership Fellows Program based on input to ensure program remains relevant and responsive to needs
Participate in Career Vision Project
Create a career path aligned with aspirational goals, personal values, interests, and lifestyle desires
Participate in Professional Development
Identify professional development opportunities for participants
Fellows participate in professional development trainings to support career in behavioral health fields
How & When?
Prospective fellows must first be nominated by either their program or host site supervisor.
Following the nomination, each state service commission will review the nominations and select two finalists to represent their state.
If you are interested in being nominated for the YMHC Leadership Fellowship, reach out to your program director or program lead.
Qualifications
Passionate about social change, mental health advocacy, and youth empowerment.
Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
Strong teamwork and collaboration with other fellows and staff.
Featured Experiences
Aspen Institute Changemakers Panel
YMHC Fellows Myah Wiersema (Cherry Health AmeriCorps, Michigan) and Allison Oropeza (Communities In Schools of North Texas) represented the Leadership Fellowship at the Aspen Institute Center for Rising Generations Summit in Washington, D.C. They spoke on a national Changemakers panel, shared YMHC’s mission, and connected with other youth empowerment leaders. Both described the experience as an incredible honor and expressed excitement about continuing to support YMHC’s future.
Sharing Member Impact with Funders
At the YMHC Funders Webinar (hosted by the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest), Leadership Fellow Allison Oropeza shared her story with national philanthropic leaders and mental health experts. She described supporting middle school students in building trust, managing stress, and navigating identity and self-esteem challenges. Her testimony showed how near-peer relationships create safe spaces for youth to open up about mental health, and underscored the powerful impact YMHC members are making in schools and communities nationwide.
Pinterest Vision Boards Project
In partnership with Pinterest, Leadership Fellows created digital vision boards to share their motivations for joining the Corps, how they care for their own mental health, and the personal passions that drive their service. This project gave Fellows a creative outlet to reflect on their journeys while showcasing the diverse experiences and values that strengthen the YMHC community. The vision boards also served as a reminder that caring for others begins with caring for ourselves.
