“Youth Voices Matter - NY” believes in the power of young people. Each of us possess special gifts and abilities. Although we recognize that life sometimes challenges us, we have each other for support. What we realize is when we join together, we can reshape the lives and build ones we were meant to live where everything is possible! Built on this belief, we, the youth and young adults of New Yor
k, wish to make changes to better our lives and the lives of our families and communities. We will “pump up our voices” and raise awareness to fix the problems in our lives that keep us from reaching our full potential. From the assistance we accept from others, there are many possibilities towards achieving success when working with connections to resources within the community. When any action is taken on behalf of youth, it is our hope reflect the core values, goals, and vision of our communities. Our mission is to empower the lives of young people in the State of New York as we develop a statewide “Youth Recovery Community Organization” that will assist young people to foster lives of meaning, purpose and fulfillment. We envision the “leaders of tomorrow” becoming positive “change-agents” of today. Through the efforts of education, we are able to change society’s perception, invite other organizations, agencies, and providers to join Youth Voices Matters and engage in this collaborative process. As we address these concerns, we hope our efforts will provide a positive impact on the lives of young people. We have four core values:
• Each community should decide on which areas of concern to address
• The power of reinvention has the capacity to restore the lives of individuals, families and communities
• We are capable and should be allowed to represent ourselves as young people in all endeavors
• Resources, services, and supports are crucial in promoting health and wellness in the process of achieving our full potential
