Youth Leadership Advisory Board - YLAB Program

08/28/2026

Ready to be the voice and lead the change? Youth Infusion’s Youth Leadership Advisory Board (YLAB) is FREE to join and open to teens ages 14–18 who want to build leadership skills, serve their communities, strengthen their voice, and connect with other young leaders across the region. Applications are due October 15, 2026, and the program begins November 1, 2026.

Apply here: https://www.youthinfusioninc.com/ylab-leadership-program

Flyer designed by: Karina DaSilva (Former YLAB Program Young Person, Now Youth Infusion Intern and Student at Rutgers University-Newark)




Youth Infusion

08/20/2026

08/09/2026

Young people are often the first to notice when a friend is struggling. The question is: do they know what to do next?

That is why Youth Infusion is committed to bringing teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) training to young people across our communities.

tMHFA gives teens in grades 9–12 practical tools to recognize warning signs, start a caring conversation, listen without judgment, and help connect a friend to a trusted adult. The training follows a simple 5-step action plan: LOOK, ASK, LISTEN, HELP, and YOUR FRIENDSHIP MATTERS.

The mental health challenges facing Pennsylvania youth make this work especially important. The 2025 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) highlights concerns around depression, sadness, su***de risk, and young people feeling they have no one to turn to.

At Youth Infusion, we believe mental health education should be part of how we prepare young people to lead, serve, and care for one another. That is why every Youth Leadership Advisory Board (YLAB) Program student completes tMHFA, and every Youth Infusion Task Force Mentor is Youth Mental Health First Aid certified.

We also provide Youth Mental Health First Aid for adults, school and district trainings, community organization trainings, parent and caregiver workshops, and professional development.

When young people know how to recognize the signs and start the conversation, they can help create stronger, healthier communities.

See the signs. Start the conversation. Save a life.

Learn more about bringing Mental Health First Aid training to your school or community:

https://youthinfusioninc.com/tmhfa-for-teens

08/05/2026

Applications Are Now Open!

Are you ready to make a difference in your community, develop your leadership skills, and connect with other young leaders across Pennsylvania?

Youth Infusion's Youth Leadership Advisory Board (YLAB) is accepting applications for our next cohort!

As a YLAB member, you will:
💚 Lead service-learning projects that create real community impact.
💚 Build leadership, communication, and advocacy skills.
💚 Explore college and career opportunities.
💚 Earn volunteer and service hours.
💚 Participate in Teen Mental Health First Aid training.
💚 Attend the NEPA Youth-Led Leadership Conference in April and connect with student leaders from across the region.
💚 Build lasting friendships while making a positive impact in your community.

If you are 15 to 18 years old, we encourage you to apply.

Application Deadline: October 18, 2026
Program Begins: November 1, 2026

Scan the QR code or apply online today:
www.youthinfusioninc.com/ylab-leadership-program

Your voice matters. Your ideas matter. Your leadership can make a difference. We can't wait to see what you'll accomplish.

07/29/2026

07/28/2026

Today, we want to recognize someone who continues to inspire us, Aaliyah Allen. 💚

Watching Aaliyah stand in front of a large crowd at Wellness Days and courageously share her story was a powerful reminder that vulnerability is strength.

When Aaliyah first moved from New York to Pennsylvania, she experienced feelings of isolation. She spoke openly about living with anxiety, depression, and the loneliness that came with trying to find where she belonged. Instead of allowing those challenges to define her, she made the brave decision to put herself out there. She began saying yes to opportunities, building relationships, and trusting that she deserved to be seen and heard.

Today, Aaliyah is a Senior Ambassador with Youth Infusion’s Youth Leadership Advisory Board, using her lived experience to help others know they are not alone. She is also a leader working closely with Strong Minds, Bright Futures in the area of mental health advocacy, continuing to uplift youth voices and strengthen conversations around wellness and support.

At Wellness Days, hosted by Youth Move PA in partnership with so many incredible organizations, Aaliyah’s voice reached countless people. She did not just share her story, she created connection, inspired hope, and reminded other young people that healing is possible and that asking for support is a sign of courage, not weakness.

Aaliyah, we are so incredibly proud of you. Thank you for trusting your voice, for leading with authenticity, and for showing others that our stories have the power to break stigma and build community.

Your voice matters. Your story matters. And the impact you are making is only just beginning. 💚

07/20/2026

Stories should help shape solutions.

Spotlight PA is hosting a live storytelling event on Pennsylvania’s mental health care system, featuring people with lived experience, families, advocates, providers, and experts.

Thursday, July 30
5:00–7:30 PM
Albright Memorial Library, Scranton

Learn more and register: https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/06/pennsylvania-mental-health-storytelling-panel-event-events/

Too many people still face barriers, delays, and impossible choices when trying to access care. Pennsylvania needs systems that make support easier to reach earlier, before families are left on their own, and before crisis.

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

04/27/2026

🌟 EMPOWER TEEN Speaker Highlight: Arielle Biggs

Arielle Biggs is a senior at East Stroudsburg High School North. Biggs was sworn in as Pennsylvania’s Youth Commissioner in January 2026, where she advocates for youth voice and civic engagement statewide. She also serves as a Youth Leadership Advisory Board (YLAB) Student Ambassador and facilitated the statewide MLK Day Youth Panel in partnership with Youth Service America and PennSERVE.

Biggs excels in academics, the arts, athletics, and leadership. She performs in band and choir, participated in Seussical the Musical, and previously played varsity soccer.

Biggs will attend Delaware Valley University and study Animal Sciences. She plans to become a veterinarian.

At EMPOWER TEEN sponsored by The Honesdale National Bank, students will gain real tools, real confidence, and real inspiration for their future.

📅 April 30, 2026
📍 Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
🔗 Learn more: https://www.scrantonchamber.com/events/empower-the-leadership-experience-2/

04/27/2026