Youth Advisory Board

The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) of East Orlando is excited to share this month’s important updates and opportunities for both teens and adults to get involved. We invite you to join us on this journey as we continue to expand our initiatives and make a lasting impact on our community.

Background and History

YAB was founded to create meaningful opportunities for youth aged 12-18 in Central Florida to engage in personal development, teamwork skills, and community events with other organizations in East Orlando. Our goal has always been to amplify youth voice through allowing the youth themselves to be the change they would like to see by teens for teens.

Since our first meeting in November 2023 to March 2024, our founding executive board—composed of Daneke Harris, Dylan Novotny, Sophia Eilert, and Yanhua Zhen—has worked diligently to recruit and engage more teens from East Orlando. Through regular monthly meetings, held on the third Saturday, YAB’s original executive board planned future events, built engaging teen programs, and refined its mission.

2024 Milestones and Future Events

On March 30, YAB had its first full board meeting and retreat to workshop its mission, vision, and core values and develop the strategic plan. Here were the results from this experience:

• YAB’s Mission: To make a difference by providing a fun and safe place for youth to feel appreciated, loved, and unified.
• YAB’s Vision: To create a community within Central Florida where every youth’s voice is heard and their needs are addressed.
• YAB’s Core Values: Rooted in L.O.V.E.—Love, Outreach, Value, and Empowerment.
• Focus Areas for YAB:
  • Teen Programs
    • Strategy: Expand teen engagement through a range of activities, events, and programs by partnering with local organizations and hosting diverse opportunities.
  • Teen Mental Health
    • Strategy: Create a supportive and educational environment for both parents/caregivers and teens, fostering stronger connections and healthier outcomes for families facing adolescent mental health challenges and substance abuse issues.

It’s safe to say the first full board meeting and retreat was a success for YAB, and we were pleased to be able to prepare and celebrate this special occasion with 12 official board members.

As a part of YAB’s mission to hold teen programs to increase teen engagement, we have planned a multitude of upcoming Teen Night events. Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

• Indoor Trivia Night

On October 18th, participants will have the opportunity to compete with their friends on various topics for fun prizes.

• Leadership Activities

Leadership Activities on November 1st is the perfect event for those looking to make a positive impact and develop leadership skills through engaging activities.

• Game Night/Friendsgiving

On November 15th, YAB is celebrating Friendsgiving with a game night! Enjoy a collection of games, delicious food, and the chance to connect with friends in a warm, inviting atmosphere.

• Art Night

On December 13th, join YAB for an evening of artistic expression, fun, and festive cheer to wrap up the year. Maybe cross a holiday gift for a loved one off your to-do list while you’re at it!

Become a Contributor

We encourage you to get involved by donating towards our mission of creating a supportive, inclusive, and engaging environment for the teens in our community today. By contributing to YAB, you help us enhance our programs and expand our goal of supplying teens with enriching activities to foster growth and development. To donate, please visit and share our website. Every contribution helps support our cause and creates a positive impact.

Get Involved

YAB is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our L.O.V.E. Our Youth crew. If you’re passionate about supporting teens and would like to get involved, visit our website or reach out to us at info@loveouryouth.org to learn more about how you can help.

Written by: Members of the East Orlando Youth Advisory Board