2022 NT Youth Round Table biography - Akeelah Cowen

Although Akeelah was born and raised in Katherine, she also had the opportunity to live in Queensland and New South Wales. Akeelah has many family connections in Katherine and surrounding areas and some of her family members were victims of the Stolen Generation.

She is studying a Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention at Charles Darwin University and works as a Youth Outreach & Re-Engagement Officer with the NT Government. Her passion is helping at-risk young people who usually come from disadvantaged backgrounds and challenging upbringings. Akeelah enjoys playing local football and volunteering with the YMCA’s Girls and Boys Groups.

Akeelah says:

"I want to be able to help young people become as successful as they possibly can in order to encourage and empower them to break bad generational cycles. I believe that joining the NT Youth Round Table will give me the opportunity to be the voice of the young people in Katherine who aren’t heard or who don’t know how to be heard, and the chance to help and connect with the community. It will also provide me with insight about other youth issues brought to the table from other potential Youth Round Table members. It’s always good hearing issues from other peoples perspectives."