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Healing, Equity, Advocacy & Leadership (HEAL) Project

Who We Are

HEAL aims to promote healthy behaviors and environments as a substance use prevention strategy for Latinx & Black Youth.

Reduce 30 day substance use among 9th grade Latino students
Reduce drug related suspensions by Hispanic/Latino and African American students

1) Healing Circles

Provide the space to heal, share, and build relations

2) Youth Coalitions

Engage youth in advocacy, leadership, and peer to peer education

3) Art Engagement

Engage youth in the arts as a tool for advocacy, expression, and connection

4) Youth Advocacy Summit

Peer to Peer engagement and leadership development

Youth Coalitions

Establish Youth Leadership Coalitions (YLC) in Visalia high schools for African American and Latino youth to engage with their peers in the development and implementation of community solutions surrounding social justice issues, including the disproportionate suspension of African American youth and the high number of alcohol and tobacco retailers in communities of color

Art Engagement

With the support of local Latino and African American Art Ambassadors, engage Latino and African American youth in art expression, such as painting/graffiti art, spoken poetry, and rap/song and host an annual art showcase around the topics of social justice and health equity.

Youth Advocacy Summit

Support Latino and African American youth leaders annually in organizing and leading an Annual Summer Youth Leadership Summit for Latino and African American youth each year in support of building resiliency, enhancing leadership skills and engaging youth in discussions on how to improve their communities

This project is funded by Elevate Youth California. Elevate Youth California is funded by State of California’s Department of Health Care Services through the Proposition 64 Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account and is administered by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation.