Rising Youth Leaders - Sam Allen

We want to take a moment to celebrate one of our community's many inspiring youth, Sam Allen of Machias.

Sam was recently gifted a basketball hoop, and recognizing that the town of Machias did not have a dedicated public space for kids to play basketball, he identified the perfect spot for one, adjacent to the town tennis courts along the Machias River. He talked with his mom, Katie Sell, Heathy Acadia Community Health Coordinator and Safe Harbor Recovery Residence Manager, and together they contacted Machias Town Manager Bill Kitchen, who enthusiastically gave the nod to install the basketball hoop in the location Sam chose.

Thanks to help from family friend and neighbor Joe Finnemore, Sam's basketball hoop is now accessible for all youth in the town of Machias to enjoy. Thank you, Sam, for making a difference in our community.

Providing access to opportunities for youth to engage in social activities and healthy activities can have positive impacts on health, including improved self-esteem, social skills, sense of belonging, and overall mental and physical health; and can help deter substance use and misuse. We are so inspired by Sam's leadership and generosity, and we hope that you are, too!

Sam Allen has participated in DownEast Teen Leadership Camp and is an active youth member of Maine Recovery Advocacy Project (ME-RAP). You may even have heard Sam on WQDY FM radio in a Healthy Acadia and Maine Prevention Service public service announcement highlighting the health risks of vaping.