Youth Voices: The Future of Health Equity

Meet the next generation of health equity advocates who are creating change in their neighborhoods while still in high school and college.

At 17, Jasmine Rodriguez has already organized three community health fairs, launched a peer education program about mental health, and testified before the Colorado State Legislature about youth access to healthcare.

"Young people understand the problems because we're living them," Jasmine explains during a break from her work as a Youth Health Leader. "But we also see solutions that adults might miss because we think differently about what's possible."

Our Youth Health Leaders program has trained over 150 young people ages 16-24 to become advocates for health equity in their communities. These emerging leaders bring fresh perspectives to age-old challenges and aren't afraid to challenge conventional approaches.

The program pairs intensive leadership training with hands-on project experience. Youth leaders design and implement their own health equity initiatives, with support from adult mentors but full creative control over their projects.

Recent youth-led initiatives include a social media campaign about diabetes prevention that reached over 10,000 local teens, a peer support network for LGBTQ+ youth navigating healthcare systems, and a mobile health screening program that travels to high schools across Denver.

"What impresses me most is how naturally these young leaders think systemically," notes program coordinator Jamal Rodriguez. "They don't just see individual health problems – they see the connections between housing, education, transportation, and health outcomes."

The program has also created pathways for continued involvement in health equity work. Over 80% of program alumni go on to pursue careers or volunteer opportunities in public health, community organizing, or healthcare.