Our Mission

At Voice of the Youth Project, we are dedicated to empowering young people by providing mentorship, advocacy, and critical resources to help them navigate life’s challenges. Our mission is to amplify the voices of youth, foster safer school environments, and reduce violence in communities. Through direct engagement with students, parents, educators, and local leaders, we ensure that young people have the tools and support they need to thrive.

What we do:
We work alongside volunteers, educators, parents, and community leaders to provide a wide range of life-changing services, including:

• Youth Mentorship & Development (Ages 13-23):
  • One-on-one and group mentoring to support personal growth, academic success, and emotional well-being.
  • Peer-to-Peer Mentoring: Creating safe spaces for youth to support and uplift each other.
  • Leadership & Youth Activism: Encouraging young people to use their voices for change, engage in community initiatives, and advocate for their rights.
  • Behavioral Management & Emotional Growth: Helping youth develop emotional intelligence, self-regulation skills, and resilience.
    
• Violence Prevention & School Safety
  • Restorative Justice & Life Coaching: Conflict resolution strategies that prevent violence before it happens and help youth develop accountability.  
  • School Safety & Student Advocacy: Acting as a bridge between students, teachers, and administrators to ensure fair treatment and safe learning environments.
  • De-escalation & Conflict Resolution Training: Equipping youth, educators, and families with effective tools to prevent fights, bullying, and violence.
  • School Assemblies & Community Outreach: Hosting educational events to address violence prevention, youth empowerment, and personal development.
    
• Mental Health & Suicide Prevention  
  • Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention: Providing 24/7 crisis resources, therapy referrals, and immediate intervention services.
  • Peer Support Groups: Ensuring no young person feels alone by creating safe spaces for open conversations about mental health
  • Education on Warning Signs & Intervention: Training youth, families, and educators to recognize and respond to suicidal ideation.
  • Therapy & Long-Term Support: Connecting students with licensed therapists and crisis counselors for ongoing mental health support.  
  • Self-Care & Emotional Resilience Programs: Teaching coping strategies, mindfulness, and wellness practices to help youth manage stress and anxiety.
    
• Rehabilitation & Second Chances
  • Support for Juvenile Offenders: Offering alternative pathways for young people to reintegrate through education, mentorship, and career development.
  • Rehabilitation & Addiction Support: Connecting youth with detox programs, sober living homes, therapy, and harm reduction resources.
  • Fentanyl & Overdose Prevention: Providing Narcan training, fentanyl test strips, and overdose prevention education to protect lives.
  • Workforce Development & Career Readiness: Helping youth gain job skills, internships, and employment opportunities.
    
• Community Engagement & Family Support  
  • Community Liaison Services: Strengthening communication between students, parents, educators, and public officials to create supportive environments for youth.
  • Wellness Checks & Home Visits: Personally checking in with youth and families struggling with behavioral, emotional, or social challenges.
  • Community Service & Volunteering Opportunities: Partnering with different counties to provide meaningful service projects, empowering youth to give back.

The Impact

The Founders, along with a dedicated team of volunteers and community members, is making a real difference by:

• Leading youth mentorship programs that offer guidance and inspiration.
• Organizing school assemblies and community outreach events focused on violence prevention, youth activism, and personal development. 
• Providing essential resources like therapy, job training, addiction support, and rehabilitation services.     
• Advocating for policy changes that prioritize student safety, mental health, and equitable education opportunities.
• Using music and creative arts to engage youth in positive, expressive outlets for healing and self-discovery.

“The youth is the hope of our future.” – José Rizal

“I believe that every person is born with a talent. It’s up to each individual to realize and refine it through education, practice, and dedication.” – Maya Angelou

Learn more or get involved today:
Email: voiceoftheyouthproject@gmail
Instagram: @VoiceOfTheYouthProject

Amari Jones – Community Outreach Coordinator

Amari J is a member of the Voice of the Youth project and has worked in multiple school districts in Alameda County with middle and high school students across the Bay Area.

Since 2019, Amari J has decided to use his platform to be an advocate for inspiring & motivating the youth in the right direction. He educates them on life goals, staying in school, and life issues. He began his journey mentoring kids who make music, and it turned into something greater. School districts, programs and non-profit organizations began to seek his help with students across the west coast as they heard his impact. Amari J puts his heart in his work and wants to make a difference in the generation by being part of the solution and not the problem. Since he started this work, he has received tons of love and support from staff members, parents, and the community. As a musician, Amari J was able to continue what the late California rapper Nipsey Hussle started, using his platform of music to keep the youth out of trouble by showing them that there are many ways to go about life, especially for kids surrounded in gang-inflicted neighborhoods. He has attended several youth conferences in Los Angeles and Oakland, California. He is working on creating several community youth programs in conjunction with grant contacts from the state of California to stop violence and raise awareness – Storm Monroe Article

Kevin Wei – Website Manager

Kevin Wei is a high school graduate from Maria Carrillo High School currently attending the University of Pennsylvania in the Digital Media Design program. He is a member of Voice of the Youth as well as the creator of this website.

Kevin was first contacted by Amari J because of his work covering the March 2023 Montgomery High School incident. After the MHS tragedy, students from across the district made their voices heard by attending walkouts and demanding safety and better communication. Kevin created a 50-minute documentary that includes interviews and clips from the student protests: We Want Change | Documentary

Aaron E. Sanchez – Activism Collaborator

Aaron E. Sanchez is a Kenwood, CA native & Northern California realtor. His family has been deeply rooted in the region for over 60 years, providing him extensive exposure to various cities and industries from a young age. Aaron Sanchez Real Estate

Aaron Sanchez is a proud member of the Voice of the Youth Project. He is a graduate from Santa Rosa High School and is driven by a profound commitment to promoting student activism and reducing violence in schools and communities. His invaluable insights, coupled with his robust managerial and leadership skills, play a pivotal role in advancing the mission. He applies his understanding of today’s diverse youth landscape and the multicultural fabric of many of California’s neighborhoods and communities. He collaborates closely with the lead contributors of Voice of the Youth Project that are dedicated to empowering student activism and enhancing safety within our communities.

Sheikyelah “Shay” Kahoro – Youth Program Coordinator

Sheikyelah “Shay” Kahoro is a rising senior at Maria Carrillo High School in Santa Rosa, California. She is the Youth Program Coordinator for Voice of the Youth, and has a vast array of accomplishments.

For example, Kahoro became the first black student leader in leadership at Maria Carrillo High School. She also attended multiple National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) summer programs. She has a certificate of achievement for NYLF Medicine at UC Berkeley and NYLF Advanced Medicine & Health Care at Johns Hopkins University. Kahoro has even done medical workshop rotations in the world’s largest trauma center in Maryland (the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center).

In the future, Kahoro aspires to apply her interests in STEM, medicine, and the human brain, to become a neurosurgeon. She hopes to attend university to study biology, chemistry, or neuroscience. Fundamentally, Kahoro’s principal dream has always been to help others in need. From spreading happiness as ASB President to saving lives as a surgeon, Kahoro has stated that she is driven by her “love for creating communities in places that have none.”

Simran Bhatnagar – Community Support Specialist

Simran Bhatnagar is a passionate creative and a business-minded enthusiasts, currently studying Marketing with a love for film, music, and storytelling. Raised in Bay Area, she’s on a mission to amplify authentic voices and bring more Indian representation to Hollywood. Her passions range from creative entrepreneurship to storytelling that centers empathy and human connection. She believes in the power of art, culture, and community to spark change.

Lydia Bordessa – Peer Drug Prevention & Creative Outreach Ambassador

Lydia Bordessa, who formerly attended Santa Rosa High, is a passionate advocate for sobriety and recovery, using her own journey as a recovering addict to inspire change. After losing two close friends to fentanyl, she became determined to make a difference, turning her pain into purpose. Now, as the head and lead speaker of our program, she’s dedicated to helping others find hope and healing. Beyond her advocacy, Lydia is also a talented artist, known for her incredible creativity and skill in drawing.

Nyjah Harrison – Community Support Specialist

Nyjah Harrison is a 17-year-old from Oakland, California, with a strong commitment to supporting youth and creating positive change. Currently a junior in high school, Nyjah first connected with the Voice of the Youth Project back in 6th grade while attending school in Alameda. Since then, he has remained dedicated to uplifting his peers and being a voice for those who often go unheard. As a Community Support Specialist, Nyjah brings leadership, compassion, and real-life experience to his role, helping guide and mentor other young people. His passion for advocacy and community building continues to grow as he works to make a lasting impact.