Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 2015 15 In 2016 HDSA’s National Youth Alliance (NYA) grew leaps and bounds! For the first time ever, the NYA hosted multiple youth programming events around the country. The NYA hosted three NYA Regional Youth Retreats in 2016 in collaboration with local Chapters and HDSA Centers of Excellence. With funding from Teva Pharmaceuticals, the National Youth Alliance held free, day-long retreats in Pittsburgh, Iowa City and Denver, bringing 42 young people together to laugh, learn, and feel connected to other young people affected by this terrible disease. With accommodations and meals covered by the NYA, young people and their parents were able to attend to discuss important topics like “What to Expect from Genetic Testing”, “Grief and Loss”, “Youth Caregiving” and “Telling Your Story”. The NYA made sure to pack in the fun as well, hosting game breaks during the day and capping off the retreats with an evening of fun inside a Video Game Truck! With the success of the NYA Youth Retreats, we are expecting to expand to an additional city in 2017, hosting four Youth Retreats around the country and including travel costs for attendees. If you want to know more about the youth retreats, sign up to receive e-mail updates from the NYA at www.nya.hdsa.org! The NYA also saw a change in leadership this year. With great sadness and appreciation we said goodbye to Angela Mabry as she stepped down as Chair of the NYA Board. Angela has been an incredible leader for the National Youth Alliance, helping coalesce the many needs and interests of youth affected by HD into a singular vision. Angela helped pave the pathway forward for the NYA to become a leader in providing youth programming, support, engagement and education to young people affected by HD. We are so grateful for all the work Angela did for the NYA, and for her enduring contribu- tions to young people affected by HD! Filling these shoes is MaryAnn Emerick, an energetic, dedicated young adult who is committed to growing the NYA even further, and whose vision and leader- ship for youth programming breathed life into the NYA Youth Retreats. MaryAnn’s unending passion and energy for the NYA is already helping to bring even more young people community and support, and we are incredibly happy to have MaryAnn leading the NYA into this amazing new territory as the new Chair! Jennifer Simpson, LMSW Manager of Advocacy and Youth Programs More Programs Assisting HD Youth YOUTH PROGRAMS REPORT Thank you to TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS for sponsoring HDSA Advocacy and Youth Programs.