Welcome To YouthQuake
Empowering Young Voices, Breaking Mental Health Stigma
Breaking Barriers, Building Futures
YouthQuake is a program of Vinfen, and is a non-profit organization that supports young adults. Our program strives to stop the stigma surrounding mental health and empower youth voices.
Our peer mentors are here to help.
Talk to someone who gets it. Our peer mentors are real people who’ve faced similar challenges and are ready to listen.
Support
Peer mentors help you set and reach personal goals—like finishing school, getting a job, or finding a place of your own. Everything is tailored to you.
Refer
We connect you to free mental health services, substance use support, workshops, and trainings based on what you need.
Connect
Get involved through leadership roles, our social marketing team, and other youth-led programs. Your voice helps shape it all.
Something for Everyone, Every Month
From writing meet-ups and Dungeons & Dragons to guest speakers, cultural food events, and community trips—our monthly events bring creativity, connection, and fun into the center. Whether you’re looking to express yourself, explore new experiences, or just hang out, there’s a place for you here.
See What We’re Up To
Explore everyday moments, events, and snapshots that make our work—and our people—shine.
Join us in welcoming our newest TIP Facilitator, Yoen Pedraza!
“My name is Yoen and I have recently joined YouthQuake as the new Healthy Transitions TIP Facilitator! I am honored to be working here alongside the Lowell community and helping support you in any way that I can.
I earned my psychology degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2023 and am excited to use what I’ve learned in the YouthQuake space.
I’ve been working in community centers since I’ve been in the 7th grade and worked at the YMCA in Fitchburg, MA between 2018 and 2024 working alongside large groups of 15-20 with the ages of 12 through 14 during the school year as well as the summer months-including COVID emergency care. My goal is to earn your trust in the coming months to hopefully assist anyone in need by helping you navigate through any challenges that come up in your life through your own ideal means of problem solving! Through my experience of working within my own community in Fitchburg I’ve met an abundance of different types of people with different backgrounds which has helped shaped me to be an understanding person in this field. I am genuinely looking forward to getting to know everyone and starting to build positive relationships with you all.
Personally speaking I’m a pretty easy going person. My current hobbies include working out at the gym, reading, occasionally drawing, and listening to music. I support all Boston sports teams (and the Baltimore Ravens) as well as collegiate sports such as the UMass MinuteMen. My favorite soccer club team is Chivas (Liga MX) and the national Mexican soccer team. I also like watching anime every now and then-Naruto is my favorite.
I’m looking forward to working with you all and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for YouthQuake!”
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