The YCLT SPARK: Igniting Change Through Peer Support
This news post is written by Gursimran Kaur, the Project Coordinator of ActionDignity’s Youth Weave project.
The YCLT SPARK is a youth-driven, youth-led initiative to reimagine mental health support for racialized youth. Designed and facilitated by our Youth Community Leadership Team (YCLT) members—Mariah Santos, Rasha Beydaun, Kamiya Parmar, and Jonathan Nega—this two-session Peer Support Program brought energy, creativity, and meaningful conversations to the table.
Adapting insights from Natural Support training with a youth-centered lens, participants engaged in interactive games, quizzes, and real-life scenarios, gaining hands-on tools and strategies to recognize and respond to mental health crises in their circles. Beyond just learning, they built deep peer connections and strengthened natural support systems, bridging the gap between informal community care and formal mental health services.
Art played a key role as a medium of expression. Participants challenged mental health stigma through creativity, shifting the narrative from silence and shame to empathy, resilience, and peer support. The interactive, dialogue-based approach helped normalize peer-led well-being, proving that youth supporting youth is a valuable and effective approach. To make the experience even more engaging, participants enjoyed great food and had the chance to win prizes as they took part in discussions and activities.
Over the next three months, YCLT will continue leading action for transformational systems change, ensuring racialized youth can access and shape the mental health supports they need.
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