Helping Students Feel Safe, Seen, and Supported: Remarks from the Youth Mental Health Corps Launch

Aspire is honored to have been selected as one of eight programs in Virginia’s inaugural year participating in the Youth Mental Health Corps (YMHC). We were thrilled to attend and participate in the launch of the YMHC program in Virginia this past Friday. Our YMHC Fellow, Dakota Yoon, stood alongside the First Lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin, Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera, Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet Kelly, and other distinguished guests as she shared why mental health is important to her, why she chose to serve, and what she hopes to accomplish through the program. We are looking forward to the year as we work together to expand access to mental health support for Virginia’s youth. Read Dakota’s remarks below:

Good morning, everyone.

I want to start by thanking my fellow Youth Mental Health Corps and AmeriCorps members, our partners, and the state officials here today. It’s really inspiring to see a room full of people who all believe in the power of service and the importance of mental health.

Standing here, I’m reminded that each of us has a story — a reason why mental health matters to us, and a reason we chose to serve. For me, it’s something deeply personal. I’ve seen people close to me struggle, and I’ve seen how much strength, time, and energy it takes to manage mental health. It’s not easy. But I’ve also seen how much difference the right support can make.

Having someone who listens — someone who shows up and helps you feel seen — can completely change how you get through hard times. And having the right tools, a kind of mental health toolbox to draw from, can make those challenges feel just a little more manageable.

That’s why I believe so strongly in the work we’re doing. For the kids and young people we serve, we get to be that safe person. We get to show up for them, listen to them, and help them start building their own toolbox of skills and support.

I chose to serve because I see the need all around us. Young people today are growing up in a world that’s more connected than ever, but at the same time, many feel more isolated than ever before. With the constant presence of social media and the pressure of being chronically online, it’s easy for them to feel like they’re not enough, or that they don’t measure up.

That’s why I wanted to step in — to be part of helping young people feel seen for who they really are, beyond the screens and the comparisons. I want them to know their voice matters, their feelings matter, and they are not alone.

Serving is also about giving back to my community. I’ve been shaped by the people and places that supported me, and now I want to do the same — to give my time, energy, and care to the next generation. This is my way of meeting the need I see and being the kind of support every young person deserves.

Working in a middle school classroom through Aspire’s afterschool program, I see every day how much our students are navigating. Social media is such a big part of their world — it shapes how they see themselves, how they communicate, and how they connect with others. But it also brings a lot of pressure. We see it in the friendship conflicts, the misunderstandings, and the moments when students just need someone to really listen.

This past year was especially hard for our class. We lost one of our students to illness — it was sudden and heartbreaking. The students were grieving, confused, and unsure how to process losing someone they saw every day. It was incredibly difficult, but it also showed how much they cared for one another and how important it is to have trusted adults who can help them through moments like that.

I did my best to be there for the students, to create space for their feelings, but I remember wishing I had more tools — more ways to help them process what they were going through. It really showed me just how powerful it is when young people have adults who know how to guide them through tough emotions and help them build resilience.

That experience is a big part of what inspired me to join the Youth Mental Health Corps this year. I wanted to learn more — to gain the tools, knowledge, and training to better support students’ mental health in real, tangible ways.

What I love about Youth Mental Health Corps is that we’re not just being sent into classrooms and told to figure it out on our own — we’re being equipped with real resources, professional development, and a community that supports us as we grow. The trainings, the guidance, and the peer network make such a difference. They remind us that we’re not doing this work alone — we’re part of a collective effort to help students feel safe, seen, and supported.

What stands out to me about this program is that service isn’t just about what we give — it’s also about what we learn. Every day, we step into classrooms, afterschool programs, and communities, and we realize that every conversation, every moment of trust, every small step we take with a student matters more than we might think.

My hope for this year is that the kids we work with leave our programs not only knowing there are people who care about them, but also carrying real tools they can use — coping strategies, communication skills, or simply the knowledge that they are not alone.

I know I won’t change the world overnight. None of us will, individually. But together, as AmeriCorps and YMHC members, we’re creating ripples — ripples that will reach students, families, and communities in ways we might not fully see, but that are deeply real.

So to my fellow YMHC members — I want to say this: we are in this together. We’re not just serving hours or checking boxes. We are building connections that matter, supporting people when they need it most, and reminding our communities that mental health is just as important as physical health.

I’m proud to serve alongside you, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together this year.

Thank you.