I’m an Ambassador Girl Scout. For my Gold Award project, I wrote a book educating youth about homelessness. Along with reading my book, I have come up with some activities Girl Scout troops can do to complete a fun patch while learning about homeless issues.

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. As many as 2.5 million youth experience homelessness per year. Along with losing their home, community, friends, and routines as well as their sense of stability and safety, many homeless youths are also victims of trauma.

I firmly believe that the best way to help people is through knowledge, understanding the resources and programs available to them, as well as fostering community support. I wrote the book, “Have You Ever Wondered,” and am distributing it to schools, libraries and preventative programs. My goal is to help educate and build empathy.

Together, we are working to build a stronger, more inclusive Tucson where everyone has the chance to thrive, and where homelessness is met with kindness and a commitment to change.