Youth Teams Shine at Statewide Conference
More than two dozen youth from Washington County attended the Maine Youth Action Network’s Youth Leadership Conference on November 4-5, 2021. The Conference is an annual event that highlights and celebrates the highly impactful work that young people from across Maine are doing in their communities. The two-day experience connects these young leaders and inspires others who are eager to influence positive change in their communities. The Conference is designed by young people for young people and welcomed adult allies, and is filled with opportunities for skill-building, connections, and fun online or in-person!
For the past decade, the Conference has provided a space for youth from across the state to come together, share their passions, and get the tools they need to achieve their change-making goals. This year's Conference covered a broad range of topics including discussions about youth leadership, restorative practices in schools, Black Lives Matter and anti-racism, adolescent mental health and wellness, climate justice, body positivity, LGBTQIA+ supports and advocacy, social justice, college and work readiness, school climate (including student voice in education and/or bullying/harassment prevention), and issues that impact youth substance use rates.
Pictured left to right: Lexi Verburgt, Dakota Brown and Ayla Zanoni- members of the Healthy Acadia Youth Vaccine Promotion Team at the MYAN Youth Leadership Conference.
Healthy Acadia’s youth engagement team brought youth from seven area schools to this year’s Conference, which was held at the University of Maine (Orono). With 100 students in attendance, 28 were from Washington County!
Among those youth who participated were members of Healthy Acadia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Team, DownEast Teen Leadership Camp Youth, the Camp Events and Activities Committee, the Gateway to Opportunity’s youth team, and more. Three Washington County youth groups developed and facilitated conference workshops, three teens served on the conference planning and implementation team, and one served on the youth panel member. We are so inspired by this amazing group of Washington County youth.
Youth Panel at the MYAN Youth Leadership Conference. Roy Duffy, DETLC Staff and Youth Vaccine Team, second from right.
Everyone had a fantastic time at this year’s Conference, and returned home energized and inspired to continue making positive and lasting impacts in their community and beyond!
For more information about Healthy Acadia’s youth empowerment initiatives. click here.
Click here to read Maine Youth Action Network’s 2021 Narrative Report, Youth Engagement Network Success Stories, which includes a feature on Healthy Acadia’s Downeast Teen Leadership Camp!
To learn more about the Maine Youth Action Network, click here.