Alexa served the Youth Arts Ed Council as both a member and a facilitator, and she has carried those advocacy and leadership skills into her first year at Northwestern University, where she is studying Global Health. From presenting her research at global health symposia to fashion, theater, and community advocacy, she has found that creativity and advocacy can be part of almost anything she pursues. Here, she reflects on what the program taught her and where she’s headed next.
What have you been up to since participating in the Youth Arts Ed Council?
Since the Youth Arts Ed Council, I finished my first year at Northwestern University, where I’m studying Global Health. I’ve had the opportunity to present my research at several global health symposia and get involved with different organizations centered around advocacy, health equity, and the arts. This summer, I also interned with a pharmaceutical company and a health communications consultancy, which gave me the chance to explore how research and advocacy can translate into real-world impact.
How did the program impact you personally or professionally?
One of the biggest things the program taught me was how to lead through facilitation rather than simply being the loudest person in the room. It taught me how to use my own voice while also creating space for voices that might not always be heard. It also showed me that my love for the arts doesn’t have to exist separately from my academic or professional interests. Creativity, storytelling, and advocacy can be incorporated into almost anything I choose to pursue.
What skills or techniques have stayed with you?
Advocacy has probably stayed with me the most. Since the program, I’ve continued advocating for issues I care about in different spaces, from equitable housing in my community, to representation of Black women in medicine, to access to arts education in underserved communities. The specific issue might change, but that instinct to ask, “Whose voice is missing from this conversation, and how can I help bring it forward?” has definitely stayed with me.
Did the experience help you step outside your comfort zone?
One hundred percent. I was already a very extroverted and social person before the program, but the Council taught me how to turn those qualities into something purposeful. I learned that being comfortable speaking up is a privilege and a skill, and I can use it not just to make my own voice heard, but to advocate for people who may not feel as comfortable or empowered to speak up themselves.
What advice would you give future participants?
Be loud and be proud! You deserve your seat at every table you’re invited to, so don’t be afraid to contribute your perspective. Ask questions, challenge ideas respectfully, and actually take the initiative when you see something you want to change. You don’t have to wait until you’re older or have a certain title to make an impact. Obviously, do it safely and respectfully, but don’t underestimate the power of your voice.
What’s next for you?
This upcoming year, I’ll be a Brady Scholar at Northwestern and serve as Director of Designer Recruitment for UNITY Fashion Show, while continuing my research and advocacy work. Academically, I’m really interested in the intersection of global health, equity, policy, and potentially law, so I’m excited to keep exploring where those interests can take me. At the same time, I want to make sure the arts remain part of my life, whether that’s through fashion, theater, writing, or other creative spaces.
With your chosen art form, where do you see these skills playing a role in your future?
In high school, choir and theater were huge parts of my life, and fashion has become another major creative outlet for me. In the future, I’d love to serve on theater boards or become involved with community theater organizations so that I can stay connected to performing arts and help create opportunities for other people to participate. With fashion, I’m especially interested in the production and creative direction side of fashion shows, as well as potentially exploring fashion journalism or editorial work. Even if the arts aren’t ultimately my full-time career, I don’t see them ever disappearing from my life.
