2020 Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit Kicks Off Friday, November 13

The first live panel event for the fourth annual Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit, presented by Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) and Sands Cares, is this Friday, November 13.

This opening day of Summit 2020 features a live panel discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on youth experiencing homelessness. For vulnerable youth, the pandemic has greatly compounded already difficult circumstances, creating new hardships around housing, employment, education, healthcare and much more.

The panelists are a mix of national experts, youth with lived experience and cause allies. After signing up to attend this year’s virtual Summit, we invite you to learn a bit more about our panelists below:

Nicholas Barr, Ph.D

Nick Barr studied comparative religion at Columbia University, and worked as a clinical social worker for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health before completing his Ph.D. at the University of Southern California School of Social Work. Dr. Barr’s research focuses on improving understanding of risk and protective factors for populations with an elevated likelihood of traumatic experiences, like homeless young adults and military service members. He holds certifications in a number of evidence-based practices including Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

Heather Grace Pummill

Heather Grace Pummill is a 19 year-old pre-nursing major at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Born in Portland, Oregon, Heather has spent most of her life in the city she calls home: Las Vegas. Heather says she has faced many roadblocks and hardships during her life, and is confidant in persevering through whatever comes next.

Tayvon Jenkins

Tayvon graduated from NPHY’s Independent Living Program (ILP) in September of 2017, recently obtaining stable housing and acquiring full-time employment. With NPHY’s help, Tayvon has learned important life and job readiness skills, made life-long friendships and has become an advocate for his community.

Taisacan Hall

A former NPHY client, Taisacan Hall is a member of The Southern Nevada Youth Action Board, Young Adults in Charge (YAC), an ambassador in NPHY’s Ambassadors Program and a Fellow for the 2020 True Colors United Fellowship. She has obtained full-time employment through NPHY’s Young Achievers Program while increasing her role as an advocate.

Jazzmine Adair

Jazzmine Adair is a youth advocate with lived experience of homelessness who graduated from Rancho High School in June 2020. During her senior year, Jazzmine volunteered over 700 community service hours at the East Las Vegas Library and her high school and became an advocate for Clark County School District’s Title I HOPE program, working to bring youth voices to the fight for educational resources for underprivileged and homeless students.

Theresa Butler

Theresa Butler is a local youth advocate and student at UNLV. In the spring, she will be graduating with her Bachelors in Urban Studies and plans to continue her work with homeless youth through policy and nonprofit work. As someone who experienced homelessness as a youth, Theresa hopes to create policy that protects and uplift young people as they exit their homeless situation.

For more information on this year’s Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit and to register to attend, visit NPHY.org.