Lisa Vega
FOUNDER OF YOUTH FOR YOUTHS VOICES INC.
Lisa is a Mom, Breast Cancer Survivor & Community Advocate
Lisa Vega is a devoted parent, breast cancer survivor, and passionate community advocate whose life has been shaped by resilience, compassion, and a deep commitment to helping others.
As the mother of Eddie, Lisa’s greatest role has always been that of an advocate for her son. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at just 18 months old, Eddie faced many challenges growing up. Through every stage of his life, Lisa stood firmly beside him, ensuring he was supported, understood, and given every opportunity to thrive. Even while facing her own personal battles, she never allowed a single day to pass without fighting for her son’s needs.
Lisa’s advocacy journey began with her own health battle as a survivor of Breast Cancer. During her treatment and recovery, she became deeply involved in supporting other women navigating the same difficult path. Her experience helped her understand the power of community, empathy, and shared strength.
Over time, that passion for helping others expanded beyond health advocacy. Lisa began working with families whose children were on the autism spectrum, helping them navigate services, access resources, and feel less alone in their journeys. Her work soon grew even further as she became more deeply involved in her community, connecting households to resources, supporting families in need, and advocating for those whose voices often went unheard.
Through her work within the community, Lisa began noticing a troubling pattern among young people. Many youths were struggling with isolation, mental health challenges, and a lack of connection to the adults around them.
One moment in particular stayed with her. During a conversation with a young person she was mentoring, the youth said something that she would never forget:
“Adults listen, but they don’t hear us. We don’t have a voice.”
The words struck her deeply.
Later, she shared the comment with her son Eddie, who immediately understood and agreed with the sentiment. Together, they reflected on how many young people were feeling overlooked and unheard.
It was in that moment that Lisa encouraged Eddie to turn his experiences into something meaningful, to help create a space where young people could be heard, supported, and empowered. Her encouragement became the spark that helped bring Youths for Youths Voices to life.
Today, Lisa continues to use her voice, her experiences, and her compassion to uplift others. Whether advocating for families, supporting survivors, or empowering the next generation, she remains driven by one simple belief:
“Everyone deserves to be heard, and sometimes all it takes is one person willing to listen with their heart.”
Eduardo "Eddie" Vega, Jr
FOUNDER OF YOUTH FOR YOUTHS VOICES INC.
Now 20 years old, he has grown into a thoughtful and determined young man whose experiences have fueled a mission to amplify the voices of other youths who often feel unseen and unheard.
From the very beginning, his mother has been his strongest advocate. She fought to ensure that he was not defined by his diagnosis and worked tirelessly to make sure he had the same opportunities as everyone else. Her unwavering belief in him helped build the resilience he carries today.
Despite that support, his journey through adolescence was not easy. Middle school brought social struggles that many young people with autism experience. Navigating friendships, communication, and acceptance often felt overwhelming. By high school, those challenges intensified as he became the target of bullying, making school feel more like a battlefield than a place of growth.
Then the world changed!
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to move online, something unexpected happened. For the first time in years, the daily pressure of in-person interactions disappeared. Remote learning provided a sense of relief and safety. But when the pandemic ended and the world returned to normal, he found it difficult to return with it.
Social anxiety and uncertainty began to affect his mental health. Being around other youths felt overwhelming, and isolation slowly became his comfort zone. He often wondered if something was wrong with him or if he was simply unable to connect the way others could. At the same time, he struggled with how to talk about these feelings, even with the person who had always supported him the most, his mother.
Searching for understanding, he turned to the one place where he felt less alone: the internet.
Through online conversations and communities, he began connecting with other young people from different places and backgrounds. What he discovered surprised him. Many of them were experiencing the same things, loneliness, struggles with mental health, lack of socialization after the pandemic, and the feeling that adults weren’t really listening to what young people were going through.
That realization changed everything.
What began as simple conversations quickly turned into something bigger: a vision for a space where young people could support one another, speak openly about their struggles, and be heard.
From that vision, Youths for Youths Voices was born!
Today, his story is not just about overcoming challenges, it is about transforming personal struggles into purpose. By sharing his experiences and creating a platform for others, he hopes to build a community where young people feel understood, supported, and empowered to use their voices.
Because sometimes the most powerful movements begin with a single question:
"Am I the only one feeling this way?”
At just 18 months old, Eddie was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a moment that would shape the path of his life in ways no one could have predicted.