YMCA Center for Youth Voice program alum Emi Ren represented the community on the global stage in July at the 21st YMCA World Council in Toronto, Canada.
Emi, a sophomore at Princeton University studying public and international affairs, was selected for the YMCA of the USA Teen Mental Health Fellowship, a national initiative sponsored by Lyft that brings together young leaders from across the country to help shape youth-centered approaches to mental health and wellbeing.
“This is an incredible opportunity for young people to share their voices and experiences on a global platform,” said Glen Gunderson, president and CEO of the YMCA of the North. “At the YMCA, we know that when young people are trusted with meaningful responsibility, they bring fresh ideas, inspire others and create lasting change. Emi exemplifies what’s possible when the next generation has the chance to step forward, shape the conversation and make an impact.”
Emi’s YMCA journey began in eighth grade through Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government.
“After attending my first conference, I went from being fairly reserved to having confidence in my leadership skills, public speaking and ability to make a difference,” Emi said. “That experience inspired me to run for my first leadership position, and it opened the door to a multitude of incredible opportunities.”
Since then, Emi has served in several statewide leadership roles, including chief judge of trial courts for Youth in Government and chair of the State Steering Committee for Youth in Government and Model United Nations. She also served for two years on the YMCA Center for Youth Voice Board, where she helped provide a student perspective on youth civic engagement, promoted YMCA programs and supported scholarship fundraising.
“Emi has a remarkable way of reminding everyone, regardless of title, that accountability is an important part of leadership,” says Amy Anderson, Executive Director of the YMCA Center for Youth Voice. “She holds high standards for both herself and others, but she is the first one to offer a hand to support. Her participation in YMCA Center for Youth Voice programs was firmly rooted in service, dependability, and a desire to inspire her peers by modeling strength and confidence in leadership.”
For the Teen Mental Health Fellowship, Emi spent months working alongside YMCA leaders and peers from across the country to explore the challenges facing young people today, including stress, isolation and access to support systems. The cohort created guiding principles focused on empowering teens to lead, helping young people recognize and regulate emotions, and ensuring youth feel supported during life’s critical transitions.
“What drew me to the fellowship was that it was truly youth-centered, not just youth-informed,” Ren said. “Young people need to be part of the conversations and decisions that affect our lives.”
At YMCA World Council, Emi and the other Teen Mental Health Fellows brought their research, collaboration and lived experience to an international audience of 1,300 YMCA leaders, volunteers, partners and young people from more than 70 countries, co-leading a global conversation on youth, belonging and mental health and helping shape solutions for stronger, more connected communities worldwide. Emi helped facilitate the closing discussion where she invited participants to consider how they can apply the fellowship’s ideas within their own YMCAs and communities.
“I hope this experience inspires more youth-led mental health initiatives and reminds people that everyone has mental health. Even small acts of kindness and advocacy can create a ripple effect," Emi said.
The Teen Mental Health Fellowship is part of the YMCA’s commitment to youth development and community wellbeing, ensuring young people feel seen, supported and empowered to lead positive change in their communities and around the world.