Youth Activist Awardee ~ Jeremiah La’Porte

Jeremiah La’Porte is an award winning 17-year-old author, nonprofit founder, poet, and communications advisor

At the age of 14, Jeremiah was sexually assaulted at gunpoint. Dealing firsthand with the effects and detriments of such a traumatic experience. He realized that no one should ever have to go through such alone. Since then, he has dedicated his service to being a voice and leader in the uplifting of survivors and anyone in need of proactive and reformative health & wellness resources. Working tirelessly with other leaders in the health & wellness fields to make sure resources were fully accessible to young survivors and everyone.

In 2021 Jeremiah launched the “House of Hearts Project- a health & wellness network” dedicated to creating a platform where community leaders, government officials, and industry partners could connect with the community to discuss these resources and ways for individuals to more proactively and easily access them.

 Jeremiah now serves as a 2-year term Council Member on the NJ Department of Children & Families Advisory Council, ensuring that resources and policies best reflect the needs of young adolescents and families of the Great State of New Jersey. Wasting no time, Jeremiah works as a fast-upcoming member serving on the CSOC & Behavioral health committee and the Siblings Rights Committee.

With many forms of expression and commitment to this work. Jeremiah’s main feat and pathway in doing so is poetry. Jeremiah has been honored to have performed on many stages. Sharing his thoughts and journey with many. Jeremiah has been commissioned to perform at; Rutgers University, Kean University, Lesniak Institute for American Leadership, Watergate Hotel, The Township of Hillside, Union County Commissioner Board, & The City of Elizabeth and much more! Jeremiah made history this year, becoming one of the youngest Afro-Latino authors in New Jersey history at 17. Having published the “Haze of Poetry” in November of 2023.

Jeremiah hopes to continue his journey and work throughout college and law school. With much more work to be done