Maygan Martinez

Teen Board Mentor

Between the ages of 12–16, Maygan Martinez experienced the Juvenile Receiving Center and Crisis Residential at Salt Lake County Youth Services. During this time, her family decided to have her transition into DCFS custody, where she was placed in Proctor Care until she aged out at 18.

​

As an adult, Maygan experienced homelessness three separate times, receiving support from partners such as the Volunteers of America Youth Resource Center, Salt Lake County Youth Services’ Milestone Transitional Living Program, and, at times, her car. These experiences shaped her advocacy work and leadership. She served as President of the Salt Lake County Youth Action Board for four years and as House Manager at Milestone for two years.

​

Maygan is currently a Co-founder of the 1999 Collective and serves in multiple leadership roles within the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness: Co-Chair of the Client-Focused Core Function Group, Chair of the Lived Expert Task Group, and Co-Chair of the Youth Experiencing Homelessness Task Group.

​

She is also pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Political Science—currently studying at Salt Lake Community College with plans to transfer to Utah Valley University. Maygan is dedicated to learning and to making youth voices loud, clear, and heard throughout the world.

​

“My soul is at peace when the world is shrouded in quiet darkness. My peace is what I need to survive, so if I must, I will thrive in the darkness.” – Maygan Martinez