Ryan Li will be joining 2 other students as part of SPEAK’s partnership with Thriving Asians to create a youth-led, youth-developed AAPI mental health program! 

Ryan is a junior at Brunswick School in Greenwich, CT with a passion for mental health awareness, advocacy, and community building. He has channeled these interests into several school clubs focused on AAPI awareness and community outreach in Westchester County and New York City. As co-head of OCA-WHV's Youth Podcasting program, he has been leading conversations in AAPI identity and mental health since 2022. When not in school or volunteering, you'll find Ryan on the golf course, watching football, or trying to keep up with his younger brother. He aspires to unite the youth AAPI community through service initiatives while advocating for inclusive mental health support. 

We are excited to have you on board and look forward to seeing what you have planned in the next year!

SPEAK and Thriving Asians are thrilled to invite AANHPI-identifying students with a passion for mental health to apply to the Young Visionaries in Wellness & Leadership Program!    

Program Description

Students will submit their ideas for developing a program that is geared towards transition age youth (adolescents - young adults) with the ultimate goal of aimed at supporting mental health within AANHPI youth transition age youth (adolescents - young adults) communities. 

Highlights

• The selected students will receive one-on-one mentorship with the Executive Director of their assigned organization as they plan and implement their proposed youth mental health program over the course of one (1) year.
• Upon completion of the Young Visionaries in Wellness & Leadership Program, the students will have the chance to see the program become established and sustained by SPEAK or Thriving Asians. They will also have the option to continue their volunteer leadership role within the newly implemented program for a second year.
• In recognition of the student's contributions, they will be awarded a Young Visionary in Wellness & Leadership Award, be featured on SPEAK/Thriving Asians’ website, and have continued access to SPEAK/Thriving Asians mentorship and network support. If appropriate, the Executive Director of the program may also provide a letter of recommendation for college, graduate school, internship/job applications, etc.
• The student selected to work with SPEAK will also receive a stipend of $1,000 (only students in Westchester County, NY that will create programming for Westchester-based youth are eligible to work with SPEAK.)

Program Requirements

• This volunteer opportunity is open to high school and undergraduate level AANHPI- identifying students (SPEAK will work with students who reside in Westchester County, NY during the duration of the program; Thriving Asians will work with students residing anywhere within the United States).

Application

Please complete the following items by Friday, November 15, 2024:

• Fill out and submit the Young Visionaries in Wellness & Leadership Program: 2025-2026 Application Form
• UPDATED: Submit contact information for 1 (ONE) reference OR a letter of recommendation (from a non-relative). Please ask your recommender to email their LOR to both SPEAK (info@connecttospeak.org) and Thriving Asians (info@thrivingasians.org). The application form below has a space to include recommender contact information if you are not providing a letter.
• Upload your resume in the above Application Form (this portion is required for undergraduate-level students only)

Students will be notified of their application status no later than December 20, 2024.