Meet Brock Brewer and Juliana Montell, Afterschool Youth Ambassadors

Welcome to Youth Voice Week 2022! All during the week, we'll be amplifying the voices of our Youth Ambassadors, as they share their stories and speak about the impact that afterschool has had on their lives. 

Brock Brewer is a 16-year-old student at Youth and Family Link Afterschool Program in Kelso, Washington.

“I’m so excited to serve as a Youth Afterschool Ambassador,” Brewer said. “When I joined the Youth and Family Link afterschool program in sixth grade, I was battling depression and anxiety and navigating stressful changes in my life. This program changed my life, and the other students and staff became like a family to me. Through hands-on activities such as drawing, painting, and more, I developed my creativity and learned new skills. I’ve also grown as a leader and even traveled to Olympia to share my experience with state senators. Today, I work at Youth and Family Link as a direct service staff member because I want to help other students the way my afterschool mentors helped me. I want all students to have access to the afterschool support I’ve had, and I’m thrilled to work toward that as a Youth Afterschool Ambassador.” 

Brock answers how his afterschool mentor helped him build his confidence:

Brock shares his message for policymakers about the impact of afterschool programs:

Juliana Montell is a 16-year-old student at Gardiner, Maine’s Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley Afterschool Program.

"The experiences at The Club keep me interested, involved and challenged," Juliana says. "These are opportunities that I wouldn’t otherwise have the chance or courage to take part in. From dancing on stage during the Dancing with the Staff show in front of an audience of 300 community members to now being Vice President of my Keystone Club where I have volunteered over 1,700 hours of community service, I can always count on The Club to keep me engaged and constantly finding myself as an adolescent through play and exploration rather than through the unhealthy alternatives many youth turn to. My commitment to The Club has also rewarded me with real-world experiences such as being named Youth of the Year to helping me become employed. They have taught me that hard work and integrity pay off and that for that, I am extremely grateful."

Juliana tells us about her experience in a rural afterschool program:

Juliana answers how her afterschool program has helped her make a difference:

Juliana shares what she wants policymakers to know about afterschool:

Now more than ever, it is vital to provide youth the space to share their voices and ideas about things they care about. Afterschool is an important space for helping youth develop the confidence and skills they need to share those ideas. Whether providing leadership opportunities, fostering the development of critical social and emotional competencies, or creating space where youth feel they are being heard and validated, out-of-school-time programs are helping to develop the leaders of tomorrow by turning the mic over to them today!

Help us continue to elevate the stories of youth leaders, like Brock and Juliana! Youth ages 13 & up are encouraged to submit their stories to the Afterschool Alliance about why they love their afterschool program. Youth who share their views in a written, video, or art piece may be featured on the Afterschool Alliance website during our next Youth Voice Week!