Stacey (she/her) is a Black Togolese woman who is currently in her first year at the University of Denver majoring in Biology. She hopes that her passion for mental and public health will lead her to becoming a physician. She has been with YCMH since it's creation and currently serves as a youth advisor to YCMH's youth leaders.

Kaitlyn (they/she) is a passionate mental health advocate currently completing her undergraduate education at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She enjoys spending time in the state capitol assisting as a legislative intern or lobbying and testifying for mental health access bills. She serves on several national and state boards focused on mental health and activism. She co-authored the Teen Lifestyle Medicine Handbook now being shared nationwide across several hundred schools. She has presented both live and online for many different events including the 2022 National Alliance on Mental Illness conference and has been interviewed for a book, podcast, and local and national news stations on youth and young adult mental health and the power of change.

Rachael Mwamachi is a first-year student at Texas Tech University. She is studying pre-nursing and hopes to become a nurse practitioner one day. She has been involved with YCMH since my junior year of high school, and has progressed from committee member to Program Innovation Team Leader. Being a leader for PIT means a lot because mental health is still a topic that needs to be discussed and prioritized all over the world, so it feels good to be a part of an organization that values mental health and hear what youth want to change about mental health services.

Lluvia Alvarado is currently a senior at Central High School to pursue college and discover her aspirations in sociology or psychology. She is currently a member of CAT Crew, a group to help facilitate school spirit and educational success in 9th graders at Central High School. Lluvia spends most of her time watching obscure documentaries while drawing.

Paula (she/her) is a senior at Horizon High School in Thornton, Colorado. She enjoys reading and all sorts of forms of art. She hopes to advocate the wellbeing of the youth and their mental health. She aims to help others with similar and different stories of her own. She wishes to further her education in psychology and hopes to help people with their mental health.

Alison Remigio (she/her) is a Hinkley High School senior passionate about educating others about the importance of mental health, mainly due to first-hand experience. Alison is part of various school activities, such as Health Occupations Students of America, Tennis, Student Council, and National Art Honor Society. She plans to graduate with her associate of science and high school diploma, attend a four-year college after high school, and ultimately become a pharmacist or medical examiner. Outside school, Alison spends her free time with friends, family, and her two cats, Lucky and CC.

Ciel (they/them) is a sophomore at Smoky Hill High School. Mental health matters to her because it is very crucial on how we respond to things, and it shapes our friendships and relationships. Bad mental health may ruin these beautiful things and she wants to help others to not experience that sort of thing. She also really likes strawberries and is bilingual, studying to be trilingual. She loves skateboarding as well.

Harper (she/her) lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. She is an 8th grader at Mountain Ridge Middle School. She joined the mental health council group because she has experienced firsthand how mental health can affect herself, family, and friends. She wants others to know how important mental health is to everybody’s lives. In her free time she play lots of sports including soccer, softball, and volleyball. She also spend way too much money at Starbucks and hangs out with her friends a lot!

Riley (she/her) is a sophomore at Regis Jesuit High School and lives in Lone Tree, Colorado. She joined the YCMH because she believes in the importance and value of having good mental health. She also hopes to improve the mental health of Colorado youth and wants to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. In her free time, she loves reading, spending time with her cats, and learning new things.

Asmaa (she/her) is a junior at Gateway High School, she is 16 years old. She likes helping others and finding new people to talk to.

Gabriella Lasa (She/Her) is currently completing her senior year at Northfield High School. She hopes that her passion for learning more about mental health and helping others will help her in her goal of becoming a psychologist. In her free time she enjoys playing guitar, singing, reading, and spending time with friends and family. Her goal at YCMH is to help spread awareness to both youth and parents and help those who need it.

Margaret (she/her) is a junior in high school at Regis Jesuit. Her passions include volunteering (with Special Olympics and Guide Dogs for the Blind), swimming for her school and summer teams, flag football, and spending time with her family in the mountains. Margaret joined the YCMH because she believes in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health challenges, as everyone needs to understand the importance of their well-being. She believes that with a greater understanding of mental health from scientific and neurological perspectives, communities will be more compassionate and caring in a pursuit to grow together. Margaret plans to study neuroscience and attend medical school. She hopes to expand her friendships this year and learn alongside everyone how to prioritize positive mental health at the foundation of their lives and well-being.

Kyliegh Grant (she/her) is a Junior at Rangeview High School. At Rangeview, she is vice president of Rangeview Rotary Interact club and Co-President of Voices of Diversity and Justice. Outside of school, she is a policy fellow at YAASPA, a fellow at Rhizome, and a new member of YCMH! In her freetime, she enjoys pilates and reading.

Snow Swihart (she/her) is a horse lover and nature enthusiast with a passion for helping animals and people. As an aspiring veterinarian, she is dedicated to pursuing a career caring for creatures great and small. Snow's passions extend beyond the barnyard - she also advocates for mental health awareness, hoping to reduce stigma and create positive change for youth across Colorado.