October is homecoming month, and YI has embarked on a campaign to highlight the many alumni who have passed through our programs!
Young Invincibles has empowered young adults for 15 years; our network of youth community and student leaders numbers in the thousands. Young adults have proven time and time again that they will be the change past generations have hoped for. All we need to do is set them up for success.
Some now work as our colleagues and teammates, while others have been trailblazers at other institutions and programs. Some started their own campaigns to empower others. All around the world, YI alumni are doing wonderful work serving the community.
Check out our alumni highlight, Jasmine Hicks!
This month, we contacted former staffer Jasmine Hicks to see her progress. We asked her some questions and asked if she had some wisdom to share with other advocates nationwide.
What are you up to now after your time at YI?
Since my time at Young Invincibles, I’ve remained deeply committed to amplifying youth voices and driving meaningful change. As the Youth Development Director at Truth Initiative, I led initiatives aimed at preventing youth nicotine addiction, including launching the Inaugural National Day of Action in 2019. Through this effort, over 60,000 young people mobilized both in-person and digitally to challenge Big Tobacco—demonstrating the power of youth leadership to tackle entrenched societal problems.
I’m also currently the Vice Chair of Critical Exposure, a Washington DC-based nonprofit that trains youth to harness the power of photography and their voices to fight for educational equity and social justice. By empowering young people with the tools to express themselves and hold their communities accountable, we’re creating the next generation of leaders with a vision for a more equitable world.
Additionally, I’ve launched my own consulting business, Koren Consulting, which focuses on the intersection of policy and programming for vulnerable populations. I continue to prioritize collaboration, creativity, and a strong commitment to equity in everything I do, building on the foundation that was strengthened during my time at YI.
What is a skill you learned during your time at YI?
One of the most important skills I learned at Young Invincibles was resilience. As YI’s first organizer, we didn’t have much in terms of resources, but we had passion, dedication, and a commitment to our mission. That experience taught me how far a bold vision and belief in what you’re fighting for can take you. We weren’t afraid to ask for what we needed, or to push for policies we knew would make a difference for young people.
That mindset—persistently advocating for what I believe in—has shaped everything I’ve done since. Whether it’s mobilizing thousands of young people for public health or driving policy solutions for underserved communities, I’ve continued to embrace resilience as the foundation of lasting change. You never know where the things you believe in can take you until you push forward.
Any advice for current and future advocates?
My advice is simple: share who you are and what you do. Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have as advocates—it’s compelling, contagious, and can inspire others to take action. By sharing your unique experiences and perspectives, you not only connect with people but also give them permission to see themselves in the fight for change.
Never underestimate the ripple effect your story can have. You may spark the change that makes all the difference, just by being authentic and bold in sharing your journey.