Youth talk advocacy at summit

MINERAL/SANDERS COUNTY – Students from Mineral and Sanders Counties recently travelled to Bozeman to attend the 2015 Alcohol Education Summit to speak with representatives about youth alcohol advocacy.

The trip was arranged by the Elevate Coalition. According to information provided by Charles Standeford, one of the representatives of the Elevate Coalition, Lisa Scates, the Alcohol Education Coordinator for the Department of Revenue, asked the coalition to attend the summit to speak about how to harness youth advocacy.

The group from Mineral County included Mackenzie Spence, from Alberton, Taryn Ververis, from Superior, as well as Ashley and Courtney Cheeseman, from St. Regis. From Sanders County went Tyler Subatch, from Plains, Bree McJunkin and Haley Wilson, from Thompson Falls, as well as Jacob Mitchell, from Noxon.

According to Standeford, the students discussed how teens view substance abuse issues and how they could get involved with prevention efforts.

“Working with other youth members of Elevate at this summit helped me to realize that I am not the only one who wants to see changes in my community,” said Spence.

They also told personal stories about substance abuse and their advocacy. Standeford recalled there was not a dry eye among the audience during the presentations.

During one of the sessions, prevention workers, law enforcement and teachers heard the students’ presentations of why they feel their voices are important to bringing about change in society.

“Kids reaching out to other kids and showing them that change is possible, that’s a youth’s advocate,” said Mitchell.

The discussion at the summit was of particular interest. Standeford recalled they had to bring more chairs for the audience and people stayed to ask questions of the students. They answered questions about youth advocacy, community building and their perspective on issues within the modern substance abuse prevention field.

“It’s a neat experience for them to go into an environment like a statewide summit,” said Standeford. “It really helped them overcome some of their public speaking issues.”

Recently, Standeford went around and deliver letters of commendation from Governor Steve Bullock. The letters recognized the student speakers for their work presenting during the summit.

“I am so proud of our youth leaders,” said Standeford. “They are not to be underestimated, they are truly the future.”