SafeSpace Youth Action Board

For Youth, By Youth

Find the 2023-24 application here

SafeSpace Youth Action Board empowers young people to engage with their local communities by promoting mental health awareness, reducing the stigma of getting help, and developing solutions to improve the lives of all young people. These youth driven activities prevents isolation and fosters human connections.

Currently SafeSpace Youth Action Board members collaborate with numerous public, private and charter high schools and middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area working with school administrators and faculty to spearhead mental health initiatives at their schools and communities. In addition, our SafeSpace Youth Action Board cultivates numerous community partnerships, produces mental wellness videos and opportunities to get help through our digital portal.

SafeSpace Youth Action Board

Core leaders

CameronL3

Cameron L.

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Cameron L.

Menlo-Atherton High School, Grade 12

I saw SYAB as a great opportunity to spread awareness about mental health, a subject often overlooked by many. As mental health continues to be a growing issue on the national level, I saw joining SYAB as a means to provide others with tools to combat their mental health issues.

Fun Fact: In my free time I love to play soccer, and my favorite soccer team is Arsenal.

Favorite Quote: “Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.” - Frank Ocean

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Xamara C.

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Xamara C.

Woodside High School, Grade 12

I decided to join Safespace because mental health is something everyone deals with and it's a super important topic not talked about enough. I've seen a lot of people struggle with their mental health and it's become an issue I'm really passionate about.

Fun Fact: My favorite animal is a butterfly because they go through different stages of life, and similarly we do too.

Favorite Quote: “There is no such thing as bad people. We’re all just people who sometimes do bad things.” ― Colleen Hoover, It Ends with Us

HeeseoJ

Heeseo J.

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Heeseo J.

Gunn High School, Grade 12

I joined SafeSpace because middle school was a time when I struggled the most; few of my friends talked or noticed much about mental health, and although I had strong support elsewhere, I continued to feel alone among my friends. As a high schooler at a school where mental health education is more accessible, I want to give younger kids the same resources that I currently have!

Fun fact: I love cloudy days because they provide a great opportunity to have hot cocoa and wear fuzzy socks.

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Noah R.

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Noah

Summit Prep Charter School, Grade 11

I joined SYAB because I want to see real change in the way mental health is viewed and responded to.

Fun fact: I love to make my own jewelry.

Favorite Quote: "Caring for myself is not self indulgence, it is self preservation" - Audre Lorde

AriyaK

Ariya K.

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Ariya K.

Menlo School, Grade 10

I joined SYAB to use my own experience with mental health challenges to assist youth who are struggling through similar difficulties. I want to work towards destigmatizing mental health in the Bay Area specifically among teenagers arising from the pandemic.

Fun Fact: In my free time, I enjoy running cross country, exploring the field of science, and traveling the world with my family!

Favorite Quote: “It’s not about the failure, it’s about the recovery.” Carla Harris

Youth Action Board

AaryaB

Aarya B.

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Aarya B.

Gunn High School, Grade 11

I joined SYAB because I wanted to help spread mental health awareness and normalize having conversations about mental health. I want people to know that it's okay to not always be okay, and there's nothing wrong with seeking professional help. Also, the idea of a student-led organization really resonated with me.

Fun Fact: I've had three surgeries!

Favorite Quote: "You will face many defeats in life, but don't let yourself be defeated"- Maya Angelou

AlexaH

Alexa H.

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Alexa H.

Menlo School, Grade 12

I joined SYAB because I wanted to create conversations with other people and work on projects on a subject matter that matters to me. Mental health is an extremely important and relevant topic, especially because of the pandemic, and I really wanted to help fight the stigma around it and make sure that everyone is able to feel comfortable reaching out and sharing their stories.

Fun Fact: In my free time, I am a very active person and love to figure skate, dance, and play tennis. I also enjoy singing as a hobby.

AllisonC_3

Allison C.

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Allison C.

Athenian School, Alum

I joined SYAB because its mission really resonated with me and I wanted to help make everyone feel comfortable having discussions about mental health. I also wanted to meet new people and have always felt very accepted by the Safespace community.

Fun Fact: I used to live in Singapore!

Favorite quote: “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” - Charles Dickens

AlonzoG

Alonzo G.

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Alonza G.

Westmoor High School, Grade 12

I joined Safespace because I want to bring a voice to people my age to be able to talk and spread awareness about Mental Health.

Fun Fact: My favorite song is Silkk da Shocka by Isaiah Rashad.

RenderedI

Alyssa G.

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Alyssa G.

Menlo School, Grade 12

I joined Safespace so I could make my school a safer environment for kids struggling with mental health.

Fun Fact: I enjoy playing with my dog and going to the beach.

AnikaA

Anika A.

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Anika A.

Gunn High School, Grade 11

I joined SYAB to open up discussion about mental health in schools and reduce the stigma that surrounds it. I am passionate about improving mental health literacy so people can be welcomed in safe and non-judgemental communities.

Fun Fact: In my free time I enjoy playing badminton, dancing, and reading!

AnikaS

Anika S.

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Anika S.

Menlo School, Grade 8

I joined SafeSpace because I want to spread awareness about mental health and help teens who are struggling with it.

Fun Fact: In my free time I enjoy playing basketball and hanging out with my family!

Favorite Quote: "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." - Helen Keller

AnnabelleH

Annabelle H.

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Annabelle H.

Woodside High School, Alum

I joined SYAB because I understand how hard mental health can be and I see my friends struggle to find help or to get people to understand them. I want to help raise awareness and create safe and welcoming environments at my school and other places I encounter.

Fun Fact: I love to act!! I have been doing theatre for 12 years and I find it so interesting getting to play different characters with a ton of different backgrounds. In the future I hope to be a pediatric occupational therapist because I love biology. I am also learning ASL 🙂

AnthonyH

Anthony H.

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Anthony H.

Gunn High School, Grade 12

I joined SYAB because I wanted to help raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health issues within the local communities. I hope to work on projects that would change the conversation around mental health and encourage those in need to reach out for help and support.

Fun Fact: In my free time, I enjoy swimming, playing piano, and traveling.

AnthonyM

Anthony M.

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Anthony M.

Foothill High School, alum

Mental health, emotional wellbeing, and self-care are vital elements that need more resources and attention. Joining SYAB gives me the opportunity to make an impact in this space by empowering young adults, colleagues, and peers. I want to educate and encourage others, helping to create more comfortable spaces and support networks for those around me.

Fun Fact: I became an Eagle Scout in December 2019; my project involved designing and building a touch table at a local community nature center.

Favorite Quote: "There is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for." -J.R.R. Tolkien

AshwinR2

Ashwin R.

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Ashwin R.

Design Tech High School, Grade 10

I joined SYAB so I could help people in the community especially youth learn about mental health.

Fun Fact: In my free time I love to bake and I also have a cookie business.

Favorite Quote: "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get."

ChloeH

Chloe H.

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Chloe H.

Mills High School, Grade 12

I joined SYAB because I want to help in bringing down the stigma around mental health that still persists in society. I want to gain knowledge and skills to support those around me who might be struggling with mental health, and I seek to branch out to other communities and learn other people's stories.

I love flowers, writing stories, and Agatha Christie movies 🙂

ChloeL

Chloe L.

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Chloe L.

Menlo-Atherton High School, alum

I joined the SafeSpace Youth Action Board because raising awareness about youth mental health is very important. SafeSpace is unique in that it empowers students to develop projects that offer direct support to our peers. My personal experiences have shown me how valuable having the support of others is and I hope to make this support easily accessible to all youth.

Fun Fact: In my free time, I love to dive, read, and spend time with family and pets!

ChristinaD

Christina D.

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Christina D.

Gunn High School, Grade 12

I'm passionate about bettering youth mental health and the culture around it. At SafeSpace, I can support my community and raise awareness about mental health.

Fun Fact: I have been to all the Spanish missions in California!

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Chris A.

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Chris A.

Sacred Heart Prep, Grade 11

ChristineR

Christine R.

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Christine R.

Castilleja School, Grade 11

I joined SYAB to support the mental health and well-being of teenage students while promoting therapy through creative forms.

Fun Fact: I love rabbits!

Favorite Quote: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

SafeSpace

Claire W.

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Claire W.

Castilleja School, Grade 12

I joined SafeSpace because I care deeply about advocating for mental health and breaking down the stigma surrounding it. Mental health has always been a very personal and important topic to me, and I would have given anything in my darkest days to have a friend my age to lean on. I hope that SafeSpace will help teens who are struggling with their mental health to find support and reach out, and to those of you who may be silently struggling and reading this under the covers of your bed like I did: there are people out there who truly care about you.

Fun Fact: I am also a theatre kid, so chances are I'll find some way to reference a musical if you meet me in person.

Favorite Quote: "The things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful." - Ben Platt

DeloresM

Delores M.

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Delores M.

Sacred Heart Prepatory, Grade 11

I struggled with my mental health without a firm support system and healthy coping mechanisms. My journey and the loss of my close friend to suicide sparked passion to learn and educate others on how to take care of their mental health.

Fun Fact: In my free time I enjoy writing poetry, drawing, singing, roller-skating, reading, and makeup art 🙂 One extra fun fact is that I write down every inspiring quote I read in my journal ❤️

Favorite Quote: “Through compassion we choose to enter into the world of those who suffer and to become involved with their lives because, having undergone suffering ourselves, we know what suffering does to a person. And because we know the deliberating defects of suffering, we do not want them to suffer alone.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

DesireeR

Desiree R-A.

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Desiree R.

Menlo School, Grade 12

SYAB seemed like a wonderful place to spread knowledge on mental health and show others its impact. Safe space felt like a wonderful place to share my experience with mental health and to help get rid of the stigma around it, especially in underrepresented communities.

Fun Fact: I enjoy baking lots of desserts, especially lemon flavored ones! Additionally, I like to cook foods from my culture such as empanadas and picadillo.

Favorite Quote: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss

GusB

Gus B.

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Gus B.

Menlo School, Grade 12

I joined SafeSpace to help educate and create awareness on mental health issues.

Fun Fact: In my free time I enjoy playing the keyboard.

Favorite Quote: Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

HannahL

Hannah L.

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Hannah L.

Aragon High School, Grade 11

I joined SYAB because I wanted to connect to students through a student-led organization. I felt many of the services provided by our community was avoided because of the mistrust between my peers and adults, and I saw SYAB as an organization that could break through these barriers.

Fun Fact: During quarantine, I got into the hobby of solving jigsaw puzzles, and it seems to be gradually turning into an addiction.

Favorite Quote: “To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first, and call whatever you hit the target.” -Ashleigh Brilliant

HelenN2

Helen N.

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Helen N.

Sacred Heart Prepatory, Grade 11

I joined SYAB because I have seen and experienced the impacts of neglected and tabooed mental health both personally and among my loved ones. Through SafeSpace, I want to help unpack the stigma and foster a community where mental health is just as cared for as physical.

IsabelaD

Isabela D.

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Isabela D.

Menlo-Atherton High School, Alum

I joined SYAB to show others that help is accessible and encouraged.

Favorite Quote: "Worrying is like a rocking chair, your moving but not getting anywhere."

JacquelineL

Jacqueline L.

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Jacqueline L.

Menlo School, Grade 11

I joined the Safe Space Youth Action Board to reduce the stigma around mental health, and help to create a safe place where people can open up and be listened to, find others to identify with, and feel a sense of togetherness and belonging.

Fun Fact: In my free time, I love to ski with my family and play volleyball with my friends.

Favorite Quote: "Everything happens for a reason."

JoannaL

Joanna L.

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Joanna L.

Gunn High school, Grade 10

I am passionate about spreading awareness and support for mental health and wellness. Joining SYAB has given me the opportunity to share my own healing journey with anxiety and to advocate for underrepresented voices in the mental health community. I believe things can always get better with action and hope.

Fun fact: In my free time, I enjoy journaling, playing the piano, and trying new foods! I'm also a Swiftie and love pretending I'm in a music video.

Favorite quote: "Caring is the coolest thing I've ever seen anyone do." - Peanuts

Kai

Kai D.

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Kai D.

Menlo-Atherton High School, alum

This year is my fourth year involved with SafeSpace. I joined because we need to start the conversation about mental health in our communities. Mental illness has affected my life and the lives of so many people I care about; it’s time to eradicate the stigma and make help more accessible.

LeoK

Leo K.

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Leo K.

Menlo-Atherton High School Alumni, Web Designer, Photographer

I joined SYAB my junior year of high school, looking for a community of people that shared my similar passion for mental health. SafeSpace is beyond what I could have ever imagined I’d be a part of! I continue to work with SafeSpace into my college career, because they are such a family to me. Now, I have the privilege of combining my own creative and technical skills to help expand our voice to an even greater community.

Visit leokalotihos.com for more.

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Lucinda S.

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Lucinda S.

Menlo School, Grade 12

Fun fact: My quarantine hobby is gardening! I've spent a lot more time outside in general, and I encourage everyone who can to spend time outside. It's really helped my mental health.

MadisonH

Madison H.

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Madison H.

Sacred Heart Preparatory, Grade 12

I joined safespace in the hopes that I would be able to help others in any way I can, whether that involves different forms of mental health, or even just spreading awareness. I wanted to take my own personal experiences and turn it into a way to help others.

Fun fact: In my free time I enjoy spending time with friends and family. I also love to play sports like volleyball or run.

MattN

Matt N.

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Matt N.

Menlo-Atherton High School, Grade 10

I joined SafeSpace because I want to help myself and help others at the same time.

Fun fact: I love basketball.

Favorite quote: "Train the mind the body will follow."

MelanieG3

Melanie G.

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Melanie G.

The Menlo School, Grade 11

I joined SafeSpace to help make a difference in my community for people of all ages that need help.

Fun Fact: I am the middle of 5 siblings.

Favorite quote: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning how to dance in the rain"

NamyaK

Namya K.

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Namya K.

Gunn High School, Grade 11

I joined SYAB because I believe that mental health is a topic that needs to be destigmatized and awareness of it is important.

Fun fact: When I was younger, I could name all the presidents of the United States and what president number they were.

Favorite quote: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

OrlyG

Orly G.

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Orly G.

Mountain View High School, Grade 10

I joined SYAB to help contribute to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, and to implement additional mental health resources in schools.

Fun fact: I have been playing acoustic and electric guitar for 8 years!

Favorite quote: “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Phoebe Mota-Judges

Phoebe M-J.

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Phoebe M-J.

Gunn High School, Grade 11

I joined SYAB because I believe that mental health is an important topic that needs to be talked about more. I wanted to be a part of a community where I could share my experiences and help others.

Fun Fact: In my free time I enjoy reading and spending time with my friends and pets.

Favorite quote: "Hope, it is the only thing stronger than fear." - The Hunger Games

ReeseW

Reese W.

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Reese W.

Menlo School, Alum

I joined SYAB because I think mental health is something that impacts everyone to a certain extent, but too many people are lack knowledge of how to manage it.

Favorite Quote: “You are entirely up to you.”

RenaK

Rena K.

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Rena K.

Menlo School, Grade 10

I joined SYAB becuaes I wanted to bring awareness about the commonality of struggling with one's mental health as a high schooler. It's not secret that there is a wide amount of stigma surrounding issues with mental health especially for teenagers, as labels like "screen-ager" or "angsty teen" become more prevalent. As a result, I wanted to normalize such struggles by sharing my own story and helping others come to terms with their own concerns of wellbeing. SYAB seemed like the perfect community.

Fun Fact: I am an only child and I went to 4 different elementary schools.

Reza

Reza N.

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Reza N.

Menlo-Atherton High School, alum

I joined SafeSpace during a dark time in my life, and at the time, I didn't know that there was help out there. Every day felt like it was getting harder, and I continued to suffer by myself. It took a lot of time and hard work to get to where I am today, and yeah, it was really tough but it was so worth it. Now, I share my story to help spread awareness about mental health. I share my story to help kids like myself reach out for help. I share my story to remind myself that I will have bad days too, but I'm strong enough to overcome them. Everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?

RheaN

Rhea N.

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Rhea N.

Menlo School, Grade 11

I joined SYAB because I want to help educate my community on mental health and make resources more readily available. I believe that a conversation can make all the difference and I want to be a part of it.

Fun Fact: My favorite food is french fries.

Favorite quote: "My vibe is like, hey, you could probably pour soup in my lap, and I'll apologize to you." - John Mulaney

SamanthaK

Samantha K.

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Samantha K.

Castilleja School, Grade 12

I joined Safe Space because I wanted to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, especially for teens and youth. I strive to show my peers that there are communities and resources that are always there to support and educate others about mental health. It is so important that we normalize discussions surrounding mental health and help others to feel loved, validated, and seen.

Fun Fact: In my free time, I enjoy reading, photography, and spending time with my dogs!

Samer

Samer B.

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Samer B.

Hillsdale High School, alum

I joined SYAB because I wanted to break the stigma around mental health at my school and in the larger community. I struggled with my own mental health and I overcame it. I also have a passion for helping other people, and I am able to do that through SafeSpace.

Fun Fact: I love Starbucks and I am a proud Palestinian!

Favorite quote: "Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you doesn't mean you can, should, or need to do it alone." -Lisa Olivera

Samina

Samina K.

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Samina K.

Castilleja School, alum

Fun Fact: I am an east coaster at heart! I grew up in New York City and Boston and hope to go back there someday... I just love the seasons!

Sarah P

Sarah P.

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Sarah P.

Lydian Academy, alum

Mental health is important to me because I have personally dealt with mental health issues in the past. I have seen how mental health can impact not only my life but the lives of those around me.

SiennaS

Sienna S.

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Sienna S.

Menlo School, Grade 11

I joined SYAB because I believed that through this oragnization I could start and promote conversations around mental health, as well as to destigmatize such an important topic.

Sierra Shaw

Sierra S.

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Sierra S.

Menlo School, Grade 11

I joined SafeSpace because I care a lot about mental health, and I want to spread awareness and help others who struggle with mental health.

Favorite Quote: "Big journeys begin with small steps."

WillW

Will W.

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Will W.

Nueva, Alum

I joined SafeSpace because I wanted to continue to learn about mental health and promote it to help myself and those around me. My school has vast resources in this area, and I hope to share it with our larger community.

Fun Fact: I play both piano and guitar.

Favorite Quote: "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant." -Robert Louis Stevenson

Need to talk? »

Connect now to
SafeSpace Support Line

Need to talk? »

Connect now to
SafeSpace Support Line

Need to talk? »

Connect now to
SafeSpace Support Line

Need to talk? »

Connect now to
SafeSpace Support Line