Biweekly Community Spotlight: Youth Health Advocates
Three years ago, a simple question sparked an idea: What would it look like if island youth had access to meaningful leadership and prevention opportunities without the barriers that often come with living in a rural community?
For many young people in the San Juan Islands, opportunities to attend conferences, trainings and leadership events require ferry travel, overnight lodging, unreliable transportation, and funds that restrict the numbers of attendees. Too often, those barriers mean most island youth are left out.
Lopez Youth Health Advocate’s Moment of Youth Prevention Summit was created to change that.
What began as a small gathering on Lopez Island has steadily grown into a statewide event that brings together nearly 100 youth from 8 counties and 10 school districts.
Each year has brought more participants, more partners, more workshops, and more opportunities for youth leadership. This year’s event even outgrew Lopez’s hotel capacity and moved to Camp Moran on Orcas Island.
But growth in numbers only tells part of the story.
From the very beginning, youth have helped shape every aspect of the experience, not as participants, but as architects.
“Every year we’ve learned something new,” said Satya Ray, LIFRC Prevention Manager. “We hold co-design and co-leadership as our core. The youth tell us what is working, what isn’t, and how to make the experience more meaningful. Our events and the Summit are stronger because we listen while they lead.”
This year, planning the Summit became an inter-island effort. Lopez Youth Health Advocates and Orcas NextGen spent months working together to shape the experience, designing workshops, organizing activities, and preparing to lead the weekend themselves.
“My role included meeting with other teens from Orcas Island, where we decided what activities and topics would be most interesting for the summit. We also designed our t-shirts and water bottles ourselves, which was one of my favorite parts of the planning process. We did the sublimation for the water bottles ourselves, which was super cool as well.”
The youth themselves put it plainly: “Youth-led prevention to me means allowing youth to have a space in the community to express their feelings and voices about topics that affect them. Prevention includes preventing dangerous substance use, but really, it means supporting teens. I believe allowing youth to be in these important conversations is necessary for us to grow and feel comfortable being open and reaching out for support.”
That spirit of listening has shaped the summit from the beginning. Organizers work closely with schools, advisors, facilitators, coalitions, and youth leaders across the region, creating an event that continues to evolve year after year.
“Our interisland team made it useful because we were able to plan around what we know youth enjoy, and I think working with people from other islands helped a lot because we got multiple perspectives and were able to come up with a group decision for what would be the best ways to go about talking about prevention.”
At Camp Moran’s Environmental Learning Center, youth leaders facilitated conversations, welcomed participants, shared meals, and created space for young people from across the region to learn from one another. Instead of lectures, participants engaged in interactive activities focused on leadership, communication, healthy decision-making, mental health, teamwork, and connection. Underneath every game, challenge, and workshop was a simple goal: to support young people as they build the skills and relationships that sustain their own long-term well-being. “Youth need to have a voice because we know what our peers would enjoy. After all, it’s for youth by youth. I believe allowing youth to have a voice makes them feel included and more confident in sharing their ideas.”
Not all of the learning happened during workshops. The down time spent roasting marshmallows around the campfire or walking to the lake for sunset or making quesadillas at midnight was just as important for building relationships that respect and continue the conversations. “These programs matter because they allow a welcoming and supportive space where teens can de-stress and share with their friends. These programs have allowed me many opportunities to gain knowledge, inform others and gain confidence in talking with others.”
Of course, none of this would be possible without the partners and funders who believe in youth leadership. We are immensely grateful to Washington State Department of Health Youth Cannabis and Commercial Tobacco Prevention Program (DOH YCCTPP) who recognize and prioritize rural health and prevention coalitions. DOH YCCTPP funds enabled lodging, ferry transportation, and meal support for the Summit. Their investment in Washington youth made the event possible. And to the San Juan County Dream Team: Coalition for Orcas Youth (COY) NextGeneration, Joyce L Sobel Resource Center, and San Juan County Health & Community Services: we are islands strong and so grateful for our county’s youth voice. We can’t wait to be a part of what you build next!!