Healthy and Free Tennessee's Youth Leadership Council explores and combats stigma and shame and how both create barriers to reproductive freedom in abortion access, sex education, HIV decriminalization, pregnancy and birthing options, LGBT identity, and all related reproductive and sexual freedom issues that young people know and experience.
Together we will speak out, build power, and bust stigma!
If you're interested in working with the council or presenting a training, or if you have any questions about the application, contact Briana Perry at [email protected].
2020-2021 YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL COHORT MEMBERS
Shelby Crants (she/her) is a Nashville native who graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology. She is currently a second-year medical student at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and she is the president of the Vanderbilt chapter of Medical Students for Choice. She is passionate about women’s health and reproductive justice, and she is excited to join the 2020-2021 Youth Leadership Council.
Oluwatobi Odugunwa (they/them) is a senior at Vanderbilt University studying Gender and Sexuality Studies and Medicine, Health, and Society. They are invested in the fights for reproductive justice, LGBTQ rights, and disability justice and serve as the president of VU’s undergraduate gender and sexuality alliance. Oluwatobi is currently a member of Dotdash’s Anti-Bias Review Board, and plans to pursue a career path in the field of social justice after graduation. They love music, and can often be found reading, playing Breath of the Wild, or eating hummus.
Meredith Graham (she/her) is a third year student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville studying sociology and public health. She is passionate about community health and well-being, and has helped organize reproductive health campaigns throughout East Tennessee and Appalachia. In her free time she loves hiking, baking, and shopping for vintage clothes.
Dae Iddings (she/her) lives in Clarksville, TN and has been fighting for reproductive freedom since 2015. This is her second year as part of Healthy and Free Tennessee’s Youth Leadership Council. Her goal is to bring comprehensive sex education to all young people in Tennessee.
Tierra Taylor (she/her) is 22-years-old with a soon to be 3-year-old. She realized how important women’s reproductive rights were when she had her son. Tierra is excited to contribute and expand her learning by being a part of Healthy & Free Tennessee’s Youth Leadership Council.
Sophie de Jong (she/her) is in graduate school at Vanderbilt University, working towards a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. During her undergraduate degree, Sophie worked as patient advocate at an abortion clinic where she found her passion for reproductive justice work. She is also passionate about accessible healthcare, comprehensive sexual education, decreasing the orgasm gap, and the intersection of mental and sexual health. Sophie is also a certified yoga instructor and spends a lot of her free time reading a good book. She is excited to join Healthy and Free Tennessee's Youth Leadership Council to learn and help enact tangible change!
Hannah Newcomb (she/her) is currently a Masters of Sociology student at Middle Tennessee State University and the Programs Coordinator at a local Nashville nonprofit. In undergrad, she completed a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology with a focus in Forensic Anthropology and Criminology, and became passionate about reproductive justice and sex education.
Past Youth Leadership Councils
2018-2019 Cohort
2017-2018 Cohort
2016-2017 Cohort