The Foundation for Art and Healing Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC)

Be a leader in making your college campus UnLonely

Applications are closed for the 2026-2027 cohort.
Interested in joining next year’s cohort? Reach out to Callie Collins at [email protected]

About The YAAC

The Foundation for Art and Healing’s (FAH) Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) is a national committee of student and early-career leaders who are passionate about using creativity to address one of the most urgent public health challenges facing their generation: loneliness and social disconnection. The YAAC supports FAH’s Project UnLonely initiative. Project UnLonely works across sectors of the community, including college campuses, to advance three core goals: to raise awareness of loneliness and its negative physical and mental health effects, to destigmatize loneliness, and to make programming available to address loneliness.

As a YAAC member, you’ll lead Campus Colors & Connection workshops at your school and collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds and campuses to inform, strengthen, and advance our work providing arts-based public health programs designed to foster authentic connection among college students. Your voice and perspective will shape how our programs are developed and delivered.

This is more than a volunteer role—it’s an opportunity to lead and make meaningful impact within a growing movement at the intersection of arts, wellbeing, and public health.

Our Goals

The YAAC is designed to:

 

  • Build a diverse network of young adult ambassadors across campuses and communities
  • Expand the reach and impact of FAH’s arts-based programs addressing loneliness on campuses
  • Generate culturally competent ideas and insights to strengthen existing FAH initiatives for young adults
  • Provide a robust learning and professional development opportunity for students and young adults interested in the arts, public health, and program development and implementation
  • Empower young leaders to engage campus communities to
    • increase awareness of the role of the arts in public health 
    • increase awareness of loneliness as a public health issue 
    • reduce stigma around loneliness

Commitment

  • Term: One academic year (approximately August 1 – May 31)
  • Time Commitment: Approximately 5 hours per month
  • Format: Virtual (monthly Zoom meetings + independent activities)

Expectations

YAAC members are expected to:

    • Attend and actively participate in monthly virtual meetings
    • Plan and host at least one Campus Colors & Connection workshop at your school in collaboration with a campus department, office, course, or organization (with staff support)
    • Develop a brief report and presentation following your workshop
    • Share insights and feedback on FAH programs and resources in Council focus groups and advising sessions
    • Engage with at least two FAH social media posts per month
    • Read and lead a group discussion on Project UnLonely: Healing Our Crisis of Disconnection

Why Join

Gain hands-on leadership experience in a national initiative

Build skills in program facilitation, advocacy, and development

Explore the intersection of arts and health and connect with a network of like-minded peers

Make a tangible impact on your campus community

Apply Now

We’re looking for thoughtful, motivated students and young adults who are excited to lead with creativity and purpose. Apply now to join the Young Adult Advisory Council and help build a more UnLonely future!

Questions?
Email Callie Collins at [email protected]

Current Members

chase
Chase Elkins
Student at Boston University
Jackson-HR
Jackson Gieger
Student at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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Nicole Wu
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Ashley Banas
Graduate student studying public health at the University of Michigan
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Meilani Castillo
Scholar-athlete at UC San Diego
Cassandra Hornbostel
senior at Ramapo College
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Sierra (Zuzu) Jansen
Junior at Boston University
Victoria Min
MPH student at California State Universit
KATIE | 2022
Katherine Raymond
Student at Pepperdine University
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Hannah Wissotzky
Sophomore at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and the founder of Quilly
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Isabella Wu
Student at Rice University
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Chuwen Zhong
PhD student

YAAC Alumni

Samantha Kuo
Samantha Kuo
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Karissa Sena
johanna
Johanna Morford-Oberst
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Jared Lynch
Irving Suarez
Irving Suarez
Diana
Diana Shaari
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Deepika Baskar
Christel Elkins
Christel Elkins
Charlotte MacNeal
Charlotte MacNeal
The Foundation for Art & Healing