Ellana Watson is the youngest person appointed to serve on Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®) Inc.’s Board of Directors. Now a student with plans to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner, she says she could have never imagined her life today when she was 16 and first learned about YAP®.
“I could not have imagined the opportunities that would follow. YAP® introduced me to a world I might never have known existed,” she said.
YAP® is a national nonprofit celebrating five decades partnering with public systems to deliver community-based individual and family Advocate and behavioral health services as an alternative to placing young people in trouble or crisis or who face other complex challenges in residential care or corrections facilities.
In 2011, after a fight in school, Watson, who was already in Philadelphia’s child welfare system, also entered the city’s youth justice system. As an alternative to youth incarceration, she received services from YAP®.
“What started as a mandatory requirement from a judge has grown into the honor of serving as a board member. That journey—from being introduced to the program to now helping lead it—represents how deeply it has transformed me into a stronger, more confident, and more purpose-driven individual,” she added.
Watson will serve as a panelist at the national nonprofit’s 50th anniversary YAP® Making Change Happen Summit in Philadelphia on Nov. 6. She will also be a featured speaker at the Nov. 8 YAP® Making Change Happen 5k, Walk and Food Truck Brunch at the nonprofit’s national headquarters in Harrisburg, PA.
After completing services with YAP®, Watson stayed in contact with the organization and volunteered at events. This led to her becoming involved in the nonprofit’s international work. She represented YAP® in Brazil and Argentina as a street soccer player and served as a youth ambassador and mentor at international street tournaments. Watson later hosted a Swedish delegation visiting the YAP® program in Philadelphia and assisted an Argentinian team in presenting a street soccer workshop as part of the nonprofit’s 40th anniversary celebration.
“I had the privilege of traveling to various countries, meeting people from diverse nationalities, and engaging with different cultures. These experiences broadened my horizons and gave me a deeper understanding of the power of representation,” Watson said. “Being able to stand proudly in front of international audiences and share my perspective showed me that my story and my voice matter. I learned that leadership is not about where you come from, but about the courage to represent yourself and your community on any stage.”
Watson also received financial support to pursue her education through a YAP® Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund Scholarship for Continuing Education, which enabled her to complete her studies at Philadelphia Community College and go on to work as a mental health technician at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. She’s enrolled in Thomas Jefferson University’s dual BS in Behavioral Health Services and MS in Community Trauma degree program.
“What I value most is how YAP® instilled in me a commitment to serve others. Advocacy is not simply about achieving personal success; it is about creating opportunities for others to be heard and represented,” Watson said. “The people I’ve met have taught me the importance of lifting others up, amplifying voices that often go unheard, and being part of a collective effort to create positive change.”
In her free time, plays offensive guard for the Philadelphia Phantomz, part of the Women’s National Football Conference, a semi-pro full contact tackle league. She wants young girls to know that football is not just for boys and that girls can play as well, even at pro level.
“I credit much of who I am today—driven, passionate, and dedicated to service—to the foundation this program provided. It gave me the tools to lead, the confidence to take on challenges, and the courage to seek opportunities that once felt out of reach,” Watson said. “It inspired me to continue making an impact in my community and beyond. YAP®did more than provide opportunities—it transformed me. It opened doors, expanded my worldview, and instilled in me the belief that my voice matters.”
