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Children, Adolescents and Young Adults

Education Session C

C17 - Becoming the Bridge: Cultivating Character, Belonging and Voice in the Next Generation of Changemakers

Monday, April 27, 2026
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM MDT
Location: 607
NASW CCB ACCME ANCC APA NBCC
Many bicultural youth feel silenced and trapped between the expectations of their heritage and the pressures of modern life. This session will explore how adult allies can move beyond support into true amplification of youth voices. Blending personal narrative, research, and actionable strategies, attendees will learn to foster environments where identity exploration is encouraged and voice becomes a catalyst for healing and leadership among youth who are the next generation of change makers.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify key psychological and sociocultural dynamics that impact youth identity development and describe how bicultural/multicultural tension may manifest in behaviors, relationships, and therapeutic settings.
  • Demonstrate how to integrate the four empowerment strategies of personal storytelling, risk-taking, meaning-making, and voice amplification, into practice with youth to promote resilience and belonging.
  • Formulate practical ways to create developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and psychologically safe environments that amplify youth voice and support identity exploration across clinical, educational, and community systems.
Disclosure(s):
Omar Gonzalez-Valentino, PhD, LMFT, LPCC: No financial relationships to disclose