A former Youth Advisory Council member, Noun Abdelaziz, was named a ‘Community Hero’ and awarded the 2020 EmPOWERED to Serve Scholarship from the American Heart Association. This $10,000 scholarship was created to “empower college freshmen, sophomores and juniors focused on improving the health and wellbeing of their communities.”
Noun Abdelaziz aims to destigmatize mental health in underserved communities which is reflected in her work. During her time in YAC, Noun focused on food policy work and appeared before the California Senate in 2017 to help pass a bill to provide the state’s students with application-free nutritious school meals. “Children shouldn’t have to go through so many barriers to access food,” said Noun, who had to fill out her own application for school meals after moving to San Diego.
Noun continues to support the Youth Advisory Council and upholds the valuable network between Alumni and current members. Her passion for health and wellness is ever-growing and she hopes to continue making a difference in her community.