February 28, 2024
– By Gabrielle Lamplugh –
Youth engagement has been integral to the success of the Equitable Neighborhoods Initiative and a focus of the project from its earliest days. We recognize the role the next generation will play in shaping the future of community health. And young people are already an essential part of improving health equity in ENI communities. Through Youth Community Councils (YCCs), hundreds of students are advancing health equity throughout ENI’s 20 communities.
YCCs introduce high school students to health topics and engage them in ENI initiatives. Councils meet monthly to discuss their ideas and put their plans into action. In 2023, YCC members contributed to a diverse range of projects. Projects have included hosting youth health fairs, contributing to healing zone projects, and completing mental health first aid certification.
To give YCC members across the state the opportunity to collaborate and connect, ENI hosted a series of five regional youth summits in January. The summits provided an interactive experience for students from across ENI communities.
Each event platformed the ideas of youth leaders and encouraged students to use their ideas to impact change. The summits each culminated in a pitch competition. During the event, each youth community council shared their ideas for improving community health. In total, 250 youth representing 15 high schools and 17 YCCs pitched 32 inspiring ideas!
Impacts of Engaging Youth as Community Leaders
The event was also attended by ENI community liaisons who spoke to the transformative impacts of the YCCs.
“I think we’ve seen growth in our students in several different areas,” shared Keith Rhudy, Community Liaison for Guin. “They’ve grown with awareness of health concerns in our community, mental health especially, and also in awareness towards drug abuse that’s taking place in our community.”
“Many of our students, when they have youth council advisory meetings, go home and talk to their parents and guardians about these [issues],” Rhudy shared. “Then I see those parents and guardians in town and they tell me their student was talking to them about what’s going on,”
“I see positive impacts in the community because these students are talking about these issues outside of school – it’s not just something they do to get out of school,” Rhudy said. “Our community is now talking.”
As for the summits, youth, chaperones, and community liaisons shared how the event created a positive space for youth to share their ideas. They also emphasized how programs like the regional youth summits help young people gain the confidence to speak out and take action.
“I’m hoping that the youth will take away leadership skills,” shared Teneeshia Johnson, Dadeville Community Liaison. “If they start with themselves and what they think we need to change within the community…that is the foundation of our community.”
Creating Lasting Impact
Just as Teneeshia hoped, students who attended have already started to influence change in their communities. In Guin, students are working with administrators to implement their pitch idea focused on mental health and substance use prevention. Many groups pitched ideas related to hygiene kits, and Sulligent students are already making that idea a reality. And Prichard YCC members used their creativity to look beyond ENI. Students are now working with their city council to establish a citywide youth advisory council to ensure youth voices are heard.
We are thrilled to see the continued outcomes of the regional youth summits. And we are inspired by the ideas that YCC members have already brought to life.
Read more about the ENI youth summits here.
