JERSEY CITY, NJ – Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey (PPMNJ) is proud to announce its inaugural Youth Empowerment Summit, taking place on March 21, 2026, in Jersey City. This event will bring together teens ages 13 to 17 and their parents/guardians for an engaging, interactive day focused on building health, confidence, and leadership skills.

“With access to accurate sexual and health education under attack nationwide, it’s more important than ever that young people have a safe space to learn, ask questions, and build skills for themselves and their communities,” said Jessica Preleski, Senior Director of Education Services at PPMNJ. “This summit is about empowering teens and their trusted adults to navigate misinformation, make informed decisions, and feel confident in their bodies, their minds, and their futures.”

Led by experienced facilitators, the summit will feature workshops on sexual and reproductive health, mental and emotional well-being, harm reduction, and peer leadership skills. A special session for parents and caregivers will provide practical strategies to support youth, foster open communication, and strengthen trust at home.

PPMNJ’s commitment to youth education is long-standing and continues to grow: in 2025, the organization reached 9,435 participants through 307 workshops—a 23% increase from the previous year.

The response to the inaugural Youth Empowerment Summit has been overwhelmingly positive, and only a few spots remain available.

About Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey

Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey provides high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people in Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties, as well as comprehensive sex education. With six health centers, PPMNJ serves all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, working to advance equitable access to health care. In the past year, PPMNJ provided care to 22,537 patients. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.