Engaging Emerging Voices: Training Minority Young Adults as Change Agents in the Battle against COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Affected by the pathophysiologic effects of COVID-19 and non-medical issues, many young adults expressed that they felt left out of the discussions surrounding the virus. Training young adults to champion their health priorities enhances the impact of health promotions. This article presents the outcomes of the Young Ambassador Program, a brief training to develop change agents addressing COVID-19 matters among their peers. Methods: Mississippi Individuals ages 18 to 29 years participated in a 45-minute training framed by the classical change theory. The level of participant satisfaction and outreach activities were assessed. Results: Ten individuals completed the training. Performance metrics included posting approximately 134 social media messages on Instagram, Facebook