City Wide Event Cultivates Advocacy & Leadership Skills Among High School Students 

On Saturday, January 19, eighty-seven students from nine different high schools and representing nine different advocacy and leadership groups gathered together for a youth Collaboration Celebration Summit in Spokane.  The event was organized and sponsored by Youth 'N Action, the youth component of SAFE Washington.  The purpose of the event was to provide at risk students with an opportunity to share what projects their groups were working on, figure out ways to collaborate, and build positive friendships with peers. 

 “There’s always been rivalry between different schools,” said Youth ‘N Action member, Brandon Anderson, who’s also a student at Lewis & Clark High School.  “With this event we wanted to ignore that and really learn what cool projects other schools and students are doing so we can work together.”

Students participated in a variety of team-building activities, had the opportunity to share their past experiences as well as current advocacy projects they're working on, and gather information on great advocacy and leadership opportunities in the Spokane area for youth.  The youth also enjoyed pizza, twister, music, a graffiti wall, movies, and several gams of laser tag.  The event was organized entirely by Youth 'N Action members and Youth 'N Action sponsored Student 2 Student members.

From feedback surveys issued after the event, Youth 'N Action received only positive feedback about the event.  Severals leaders from area schools including Lewis & Clark H.S. and Ferris H.S. have requested the event take place every year.

For more information contact Ryan Oelrich, Youth 'N Action Director, at (toll free) 1-866-898-6013.