Free Webinar: Revolutionizing Young Adult Peer Support: Autonomy, Advocacy, & Liberation

This presentation will discuss the components of Young Adult Peer support as they currently exist, challenges with the present structure, and efforts to revolutionize the work. Topics that will be discussed include understanding young adults as a social class, problems with tokenizing youth within services, and how to properly advocate with youth and young adults, all with an emphasis on youth liberation. There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Presented By:

Shayn McDonald, Young Adult Advocacy Coordinator, Kiva Centers

Shayn is a Certified Peer Specialist who has been a part of the Zia Young Adult Access Center team since August of 2018. Their passion lies in expanding awareness around the diversity of human experiences and believes that every person is deserving of community and self-determined support. Their lived experience within the mental health system motivates them to continue supporting people actively going through it. They are an advocate for young adult and queer communities, and actively seek to highlight and address the impact of trauma and systemic oppression with the intention of creating greater change. Shayn has given presentations at high schools, colleges, provider agencies, and conferences in multiple states.

When not working, Shayn enjoys spending time with their cat and watching notoriously bad horror movies. They also love philosophical conversations and contemplating the nature of the universe.

Vesper Moore, Senior Director of Organizational Equity and Young Adult Supports, Kiva Centers

Vesper Moore, the Senior Director of Organizational Equity and Young Adult Supports, has been integral in creating a community grounded in the idea that young adults are a social class of people. Vesper is an activist, trainer, and writer. They have been a part of the Kiva Centers for several years. Vesper has been the recipient of many awards in relation to social justice and diversity and has been the keynote speaker at several international conferences. Vesper as an instructor has taught at various universities, organizations and community spaces in Massachusetts. They have been at the forefront of legislative reform in regard to shifting the societal paradigm from “mental health” to natural human experience. Vesper as a survivor concentrates on building social movements and public knowledge to create system and policy change. Vesper enjoys late 80s and early 90s goth fashion, music, and film.

Moderator: Shira Collings