Starting now

18-year-old Alliyah, a community activist and class of 2020 graduate from the United States, is taking over our account to share her experience during the #COVID19 pandemic.

Send your questions using #YouthTakeover.

Hi my name is Alliyah. I’m 18 years old and I just graduated from high school in June. I’m from the Bronx in New York City. #YouthTakeover

I am a Jamaican American youth advocate and I fight for safety in our communities, gender equality, and educational equity. #YouthTakeover

I served as a 2019-2020 Teen Advisor for @GirlUp where I focused on empowering young girls. #YouthTakeover

I've also been working with the New York Civil Liberties Union to advocate for equity in our education system and with Youth Over Guns as the Director of Community Outreach to end gun violence in Black and Brown communities. #YouthTakeover

The leadership positions I held have helped me become a well-rounded leader. I care deeply about UNICEF’s work and the SDG’s of 2030 because it is advancing children’s rights. #YouthTakeover

My experience during the #COVID19 pandemic has been challenging because NYC was one of the epicenters of the crisis. #YouthTakeover

The Bronx community has been drastically impacted because it is predominantly Black and Brown. Many Americans are realizing the impacts that #COVID19 has on Black, Brown & Indigenous communities because of underlying health conditions & lack of access to resources. #YouthTakeover

My community dynamic has changed because many people don't have access to healthy foods. We depend on local delis and food stands to have access to healthy produce. #YouthTakeover

The Bronx also has one of the highest asthma rates in New York state which causes health conditions for the people in my borough. #YouthTakeover

#COVID19 has exposed how our systems don't work for people living in poverty and depending on government assistance. Some people have to choose between their health and keeping their jobs. People who are homeless felt their only safe shelter was on train cars. #YouthTakeover

During this challenging time I have been focusing on my wellness and my family's health. #YouthTakeover

Many people my age have felt pressured to be productive during this global pandemic. I have factored time into my schedule for self-care to maintain my mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. I enjoy painting outside and learning new embroidery techniques. #YouthTakeover

I think this is such an important mantra to live by during this time. It is easy to get frustrated but it is crucial to take your time and be easy on yourself. #YouthTakeover

Prior to quarantine I never made time to focus on myself, I was always caught up in the moment. Now I understand the importance of discovering and maintaining my own wellness. #YouthTakeover

The most challenging part of the quarantine was online learning because it altered my education. #YouthTakeover

New York State adopted a national stay-at-home order which meant that public school students did not physically attend school. I had to start online learning at the beginning of March. #YouthTakeover

For our online classes, we utilized virtual platforms like Zoom and Google Hangouts to be able to communicate class assignments. #YouthTakeover

The State did a great job trying to transition students - they gave out devices with wifi for students who didn't have access to the internet. But online learning presented many inequalities for students who are from low-income homes or have a disability. #YouthTakeover

The most challenging part of online learning was not having the in-person structure from teachers. I'm grateful that my teachers collaborated with me to see what works best for my learning. They did a great job reaching out and extending deadlines for assignments. #YouthTakeover

This summer, I am planning to do internships that will expand my leadership skills further. In the fall of 2020 I’ll be attending Smith College as a Posse Scholar. #YouthTakeover

I am one of the first people in my family to go out of state for college. It is nerve-wracking but an exciting opportunity to receive a higher education at a prestigious institute. #YouthTakeover

I plan on studying International Relations and Finance to get a better understanding of global affairs. I want to continue my work as a youth advocate and work closely with the United Nations to accomplish the #GlobalGoals by 2030. #YouthTakeover

To the class of 2020,

It is going to be challenging and difficult to start a new chapter of our lives without having closure. The world is waiting for leaders like us to advocate for issues we care deeply about. #YouthTakeover

Although this is a difficult time we have the wisdom of our elders and young people’s energy to get through any obstacle. We are all destined for greatness and success. #YouthTakeover

#COVID19 has shown us that we need to reimagine the world. We must put human rights at the forefront of policy decisions. #YouthTakeover