Youth Advisory Board

Youth Advisory Board

Youth Advisory Board (YAB) members are students and activists ages 16- 24, who serve as vital voices to the ICAN! initiative. Members provide ongoing feedback on programming and communication materials and increase awareness of reproductive health, rights and equity among their communities and networks. They also serve as members of ICAN!’s larger Community Advisory Board.

Meet The Team

  • Esther Ajayi

    Esther is a grad student at UIC receiving her MPH in Epidemiology and Global Health. She received her BS in Community Health from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Esther is interested in a career in public health. Outside of school/work, she enjoys baking and singing!

  • Corazon Avila

    Corazon is a sophomore undergraduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where she is a part of the GPPA Medicine program. She is majoring in Biology and minoring in Spanish. Some of her interests include health disparities research, being actively engaged in improving resource access in underserved communities, and women’s health. In her free time Corazon enjoys weight lifting, taking her dog on walks, and cooking Mexican food.

  • Tasia Gabriel

    Tasia is a native Detroiter who moved to Chicago after graduating from Loyola University New Orleans where she studied Sociology, Mass Communications, & Spanish. She believes in the power that reproductive health resources have in the quality of life for many young women. She now lives in Pilsen where she has fallen in love with the city and people. Tasia enjoys taking walks, photography, thrifting, cooking, and always listens to/looking for new music.

  • Vivica E. Lewis

    Vivica is a second-year student at Northwestern University majoring in sociology and global health studies on the pre-public health track. She was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Vivica is extremely passionate about education, equality, public health, and social justice. She is looking forward to working with other board members to advance reproductive health in Chicago! In addition to her Youth Advisory Board responsibilities, Vivica served as ICAN!’s 2021 summer intern. 

  • Egypt Watson

    Egypt is a junior at Loyola University Chicago majoring in Political Science with a minor in English. Having spent time volunteering at community food pantries, donation drives, and clean-up programs, she has witnessed firsthand how women of all ages seek reproductive health care assistance. She believes this experience will offer her an opportunity to be more of an asset to the women of her community. She enjoys soul food with chocolate for dessert. As much as she loves to eat, Egypt loves to exercise and actively read. Lastly, Egypt loves being in school and finds joy in learning.