Session B: Elevating Youth Voice: Leadership and Impact in the MVP Youth Advisory Council – Alysa Mozak & Osmar Castro, Patricia A. Tomson Center for Violence Prevention, University of Northern Iowa

 Description:

Young people are not just participants in violence prevention efforts—they are powerful agents of change. This session explores how the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program amplifies student voice through a near-peer model of primary violence prevention. Participants will examine how the MVP Youth Advisory Council elevates youth leadership, strengthens prevention messaging, and builds authentic partnerships between students and adults. The session will highlight practical strategies for cultivating youth voice as preventionists, including steps for establishing and sustaining youth advisory councils. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to empower young leaders, integrate student perspectives into prevention initiatives, and create meaningful structures that support youth-driven change.