Phia Halleen

Phia Halleen is a Project Coordinator at Bay Area Community Resources, where she supports transitional-age youth in advocating for health equity across the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 2015, she has worked with children and adolescents in diverse roles, drawing on professional experience and personal reflection to support youth well-being. Her work includes leading policy advocacy, youth-led research, and capacity-building programs. As a Bloomberg Fellow focusing on Adolescent Health, Phia seeks to deepen her understanding of the systems shaping youth development and expand her ability to serve communities through evidence-based strategies. She is committed to co-creating healthier futures by fostering environments where all young people can thrive—starting with safe schools, caring adults, clean air, and accessible community resources.

Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) is a regional 501c3 founded in 1976 with the mission to work in the heart of communities to foster generational change. BACR carry out our mission by (1) providing direct school- and community-based services, (2) connecting volunteers with opportunities to serve their communities, and (3) partnering with and strengthening the communities we serve so that community members and institutions can effect change. Each year, BACR partners with dozens of communities in and around the Bay Area to build healthy lived environments and provides strengths-based, trauma-informed services to over 30,000 low-income youth, adults, and families. These services include expanded learning, behavioral and mental health, school-based health centers, youth workforce, re-entry services, youth advocacy, and national service.