Elevate Coalition brings together youth

On Sunday, April 12th, Elevate students from all corners of Mineral and Sanders counties met in Plains to talk about the role they play in reducing the underage use of drugs and alcohol in rural Montana. Student leaders participated in collaborative efforts to identify social norms and root causes in their communities. These students also made new and meaningful relationships with each other. Noxon, Superior, St. Regis, Alberton, Thompson Falls, and Plains were all schools present with at least one representative. Everyone shared creative and practical ideas, as well as personal stories about why they decided to join the Elevate Coalition. Another activity practiced was designing speeches to empower their peers to join the cause and jump “into the trenches and be on the front lines” as Superior student, Taryn Ververis said. Most of these leaders said that they find enjoyment and have fun being a positive influence and making change in their hometowns. Noxon student, Asiah Jensen, told coalition members, “to be a positive voice.”

All Elevate students are looking forward to joining forces and using their voices to positively affect the social norms around them. “Social Norms are things that everyone just accepts but they aren’t necessarily something that is spoken, it’s just what people know is done.” Says, Mackenzie Spence, Alberton High School.  “We want to look at the social norms around underage drinking and see what we can do to help.  We know that something like social change takes time, lots of time, but it’s ok, we just want to see people making better choices, protecting themselves and their friends, it’s important to know how and when to use your voice.” says Jena Peterson, Elevate Youth Student President.

“Elevate is catching fire because more people are becoming aware and our school and communities are getting worse all the time.” says Jacob Mitchell, Noxon High School. “This group is dedicated to supporting each other in making positive choices but also in learning to use our voices.  It’s important that teens don’t feel alone anymore, and that the communities see that we can’t support favorable attitudes towards drinking as one of our social norms.  We are the youth that are going to start this change. As a coalition, we want to be well known across western Montana for doing just that. We want to make a difference, and we will” Brionna McJunkin, Thompson Falls High School.

There are changes that need to be made in our communities and these changes need to be made by us, the community as a whole. Elevate youth coalition is going to help make that change in the youth of Montana communities, but we need your help in order to spark our movement.