Empowering Youth for Drug-Free Futures: Engaging Strategies and Success Stories

Hello, and welcome back to another episode of the Drug Prevention Power Hour. I’m your host Jake White, and today’s episodes, very different. In fact, you could say we have some new co-hosts on a line because I was interviewed for Oshkosh breakwaters podcast. And we got to talk all about launching a youth prevention club. And I thought this would actually be really, really valuable for us here. So number one, if you enjoy prevention podcasts, go and check out the Oshkosh Breakwater Podcast, they might have some content that you love, as well as the content on this episode. And what’s unique about this is it starts off where, you know, Jesse and John from Breakwater are interviewing me. And having my personality, I kind of turned it on them sometimes. And we go back and forth, got it co-hosting each other. So it’s pretty fun. It’s a little goofy. But mainly, what I think you’ll get out of it is if you’re looking to engage young people in your drug prevention club, maybe you don’t even have one started yet. And you’re wondering, Where do I begin, you can take some real practical tips from this episode and use them steal them, work them into what you’re doing in your community, because there’s a difference between asking students to be a part of your club because you need them and attracting students to be a part of your club because they want to make a difference. And they want to change the world. And they can do that with you. So whenever we partner with organizations and coalitions across the United States, we, we want to take that posture, and how do we build an experience that makes young people excited to join and excited to be a part of that opportunity. Because then they’re going to stick around, they’re going to take action, and they’re going to make a difference. And that’s what we want from our young people. And that’s going to build the leaders of tomorrow. So we talk in depth in detail about how we did this. We took Oshkosh, this coalition from zero youth, having no youth presence, and no relationships with the schools, all the way to having a city wide prevention club. The way they’re hosting events. They’re doing campaigns. Now, they’re attracting sponsors. Hey, they’re doing great, great work. And this is just the beginning. So enjoy this episode with I would say three co-hosts, Jake, John, and Jesse the three J’s. And we’ll see on the other side of this episode, dude. 

Hey Jake! What’s up, Jesse? Hey, John. Hey, Jake. Welcome. Yeah, it’s good to see you both again.

So can you tell us a little bit of what Vive 18 is? Why, How did it started?

Sure. Yeah. So the mission over here at Vive 18 working with schools and communities across the country is to really help reduce drug use and addiction and young people so that they can have more for their future. And we do this by providing really, really high energy relevant and engaging drug prevention programs, anywhere from you know, curriculum, and media packages, and then even our speaking and training platforms where we help students start a peer led club, so they can make a change for mental health and drug prevention in their own communities. And cool thing is you guys know all about that as we’re doing together this year. That’s pretty exciting. But overall, it it started in in the Oshkosh community, because you know, I grew up there just like y’all and I went this went to college at UW Oshkosh. And to, to make a long story short, I wanted to make good choices. I wanted to live drug free, but I felt really, really isolated and alone for making that choice. And it was, it was my junior year that I finally got up the confidence to build a community a place to go where if you felt like you wanted to have fun, make friends and feel good without using drugs or any substances, you would have a place to go. And so I started throwing these these giant drug free events and parties on my campus and word spread like all across the country and like this thing was born.

Building Youth Engagement: Breakwater Coalition’s Journey to Substance Use Prevention in Oshkosh Schools

It’s amazing. So Breakwater broke out. Jake to back to Oshkosh to the middle schools to do presentations around substance use prevention. And what was I’ll let you tell a little bit about like, well, this what was the goal in mind here with presentations.

Yeah, well, I met. So I met your former coordinator, Hannah at the CAD conference. And she was kind of telling me how you know, breakwater has been in existence for almost five years. They’re running on the drug free communities grant. And so it’s coming to a point where you all are, you know, resubmitting for the next five years. And up to that point, there was still no youth presence, like it was adult committees, all the memberships, the 12 sectors were there, except the students and the youth. And so we were talking about how we could get more young people involved. And she, she was going on maternity leave soon. So she’s like, Jake, tell me what you could do for us. And just dream big. And so we put together basically the mission of how can we take break water coalition from zero youth presence, to having a great youth presence with a, you know, a group of committed students who are into the mission, doing great things, and then having impact and momentum for them to start creating more change in the community alongside break water. So the goal really was in within four trips, to Oshkosh week long trips, we would speak at as many schools as possible, we would let the students know what break water is and how they can get involved and start a student club, we would help them build sustainability and a plan, so they could keep moving forward. And then the fourth trip where I would train someone within break water to carry on the movement, when all that work is done. And that’s where I like your story, Jesse, because both your role has changed a lot since we started being a volunteer and now being on staff with Breakwater, and the, you know, Human Services Department and the health department. So yeah, it’s, it’s all going like, great, they it’s surpassing my expectations, at least. I don’t know about you how, how is I’m gonna put you on the spot. Jesse, tell me about your role now. Maybe your role before the when I first got there, what you were doing, and now what you’re doing?

Anticipated the script flip and air so. Yeah, so in the beginning, my involvement or Breakwater was, was just to see like, how much how much could I get involved, you know, learning more about what it was. And then I heard about you, and what was, what was common with, you know, speaking at the highest schools and just wanting to get involved in anything to do with like youth prevention and youth work. So it started off with just like an idea, right? Like, I just wanted to get more involved, and being able to see what you were doing, being able to see the impact in the schools, just how engaged the students were. So what you were saying just how fun it was, and then inspired me, you know, so an opportunity became available within that to come on as staff for Breakwater as the youth engagement coordinator. And, you know, the youth clubs that you were creating, ended up being my responsibility, which was incredible. Like, I couldn’t have picture that going any better than the way that.

Yeah.

And you’ve been just an incredible mentor within that, right. Like, I can ask you any question about like, how do I do this within these groups? You know, like, Okay, this isn’t working, and how can I? How can I approach this different to get like a better result?

Empowering Youth Leadership: Mentoring the Next Generation in Substance Use Prevention

Yeah, yeah, that’s been that’s been sweet. Because when, when I started working with y’all, like I said, her, like the very beginning, the Board of Directors was looking through everything. They’re like, Okay, we need to do this. But that when I started, they basically said, there’s not someone for you to train like, we don’t have that person yet. And you You are the volunteer who was excited to be there was like, waiting for something to do. And then John even flew all the way from Florida back to Wisconsin, for that week long, where we did speak at all the middle schools had five straight days of presentations, and then leadership workshops with those students. And we were, you know, launching our youth prevention Club, which was super, super cool. And now you’re this. Now now you’re getting paid and volunteer, like it’s the best case scenario.

Yeah. Yeah, and has been really cool just to see, just see Breakwater have youth, you know, involved and have these groups and just seeing like, seeing them take off.

Let’s do this too. I want to John, are you ready put you on the spot?

I’m always ready to wing it.

Returning to Roots: Reflecting on Substance Use Prevention in Middle Schools

Perfect, tell me a little bit because you’re from the media side for I mean, at least for the work that we’re doing together as well. What kind of stuff have you been working on with? Either the student presidents or the footage coming in? Or what kind of stuff are you seeing that’s different based on the youth being involved in in Breakwater and what that means for your position?

Yeah, I know, I think break Breakwater thrives with each and evolved, the basis of Breakwater is to have that prevention and, and what better way than not to be involved with the youth, you know, and I feel like when we did the presentations throughout the school, it was it was very alive, a very, it was just a fun time, and the kids are having fun. And, you know, it’s it’s tough to think that from an outside perspective, you could have fallen within a serious topic of drug prevention, right? But it was very alive and very exciting and very thrilling to be in that those auditoriums, and with youth getting more involved in Breakwater, I feel like that, that content is something that comes naturally it doesn’t can’t be created in a sense. You know, I think prevention comes from, we can give awareness, we can try to be educators, but like to really get a feel and understanding where students are at, and meet them where they’re at. And I can’t do that without any youth involved, right. It’s more of a guessing game and more of educating on things that we get updated on or things that we learned and kind of passing that on. I will say the events and all that is is great, it’s a good time I love to kind of post that content, because it really shows that students can have fun without substances and it’s there all along it’s just a matter of how can we create it how can us create it and make it more alive and thrive in their lives where it becomes more of a norm you know, and I think that’d be super cool. I didn’t have that opportunity in high school or middle school. But nothing compares to that those moments with anything else

Yeah, that’s cool. That’s really cool. What anything else? Oh, go ahead Jessie.

Like what’s really been cool just with Vive 18 and like so you did these presentations? It’s not like you just did the presentation these kids never seen you again. The kids that were interested right I got to see again later on at like different things right get at the events the first you know substance free event you know, led by the youth group. You know it’s not it’s not like.

Yeah, we should tell Jesse what he did.

Hey, you’re not doing, okay, I was I was leaving under with you.

Laid down No, no, no, I turned it back. I think you had this idea because the second time the second trip right first trip was all speaking and developing the club second trip was promoting there that would though and you went on Amazon and bought something.

You really flipped that a guy make here and I don’t appreciate it. So I’m gonna put it back on you, but I will explain what we did. Jake here have this throughout this idea that, you know, what if we went to the school and wore some kind of costume. I took that idea and I ran with it. And I went as far as I could with it. So I had one of them. Right on dinosaur canasta or dragon thought I was like, we got one we got to have to, you know, we got to both do this. So we showed up at one of the middle schools in the morning. before school started, the kids were playing basketball. And we came in on ride man dragons and we’re telling the students about the event. The glow in the dark volleyball and just dance that was going to be happening later that night. Just promoting it and Me and Jake played. Where do we play?

We played some, like three on three basketball and one of the middle schools in. Yeah, in our dragon and dinosaur costume. It was amazing.

Yeah, it was a great time.

Do you know what I love the most about that was like, like in this field we’re doing, we’re doing drug prevention efforts hoping that this, this younger generation can learn from, you know, either a good example of something that we’ve done, or maybe the mistakes that we’ve made. And in prevention, it’s all about giving them opportunities. So Well, my favorite part of that day is like, yes, playing basketball with them, like showing up randomly to like, Wait, those are the guys from that presentation. Like, what are they doing here? And what are they wearing, but then flipping it onto them, getting them in the costumes, they’re now taking the flyers and promoting the events. So they’re getting this leadership opportunity, they’re getting exposed to the club, and taking ownership of it. So that was really, really cool to see our student leaders see that. It just us modeling how goofy and fun prevention can be and how this doesn’t have to be a boring or a scary topic. But how awesome it is, and how an event a drug free event is part of it. And so that was really, really fun to just walk into school. So guys like dang, nice costume. Great, cool. You want to wear it? And watching their eyes go like what you’re gonna let me do that they kind of like look at the teacher or like someone nearby, like, Is this okay? Or like, Yeah, let’s do it. All you got to do is you got to be handing these out. And here’s what you’re gonna tell people. That was probably one of my favorite moments from that that trip, besides, of course, the like, epic Glow volleyball tournament that the students put on. So this is really, really cool.

Yeah, I think that’s this was what you shared, you know, it’s absolutely important for us just to change the narrative around substance use prevention, you know, doesn’t have have to be this scary, you know, like, we avoid this topic. You know, we can talk about this, we can talk about, you know, education. You know, like, mental health, you know, like, the things that we need to do to take care of ourselves. So that we can have fun so we can be happy.

Yeah, exactly. And also, if anybody wants to see that, you can go on Breakwaters, social media, I think it’s on Vive 18 social media as well. The, it’s great, you can see examples of all this stuff. We like we started making, speaking like, the shorts and reels for social media. So for anyone who’s not familiar, like the short videos and stuff, they’re optimized for that platform. But that was that was really cool that during the presentations, we got to make each school their own short form content, where they can see themselves on our, you know, our social media accounts and in video, and they feel like they’re famous, you know, and then that they were wearing dinosaur costumes going out playing war cards, and like John was saying about having the student run events and having footage from that. And that was really cool, too. If y’all saw the video that we put together, that was so fun to see the students talking about what the event they put on meant for them. And not just the student leaders, but the ones attending them, saying things like, yeah, it’s really important to protect your brain, because it isn’t fully developed. And if you put a drug into it, it could affect your brain. Like, this is the kind of stuff it makes you feel really proud that they’re talking about that because those are the things that we educate them on. And you’re like, wait, they were listening, they do understand. They kept the information. It’s influencing their decisions, and now they’re leading the way for their friends. That’s pretty cool.

So I have a question for you. I want to like backtrack, the presentations that you did. The middle schools. What was it like for you to to be back at the schools that you went to, as a kid yourself, and present a subject that’s really important to.

It was wild, like the nostalgia is real. Just walking in the same hallways that you walked as a middle schooler and then even as a high schooler was the key moments that it you know, it wasn’t necessarily what you learned in the book, but it was like I could remember I walked down the hall I was like, Whoa, that’s why I first asked out this girl named Joy and I was terrified. And, like the most nervous wreck I’ve ever been, or, This is where I got cut from the basketball team, you know, I didn’t make it dang, like these key moments in your development, they come back. And then they’re really sweet moments too. I visited one of my teachers. And actually, a couple of my teachers were still at the middle school and at the high school. And I remember, one of our teachers knew exactly where I sat. Like, she told me, she’s like, Jake, you sat right there. And she remembered it, I felt so special and loved by that comment. And then, you know, my band teacher that I spent so much time with, getting to just see her watch the presentation and how I incorporated drumming, you know, something that she was integral and instilling like, those skills in me and stuff like that. So it’s nice to know that they’re proud, proud of what I’m doing, and that I can go and give back. And that then the students are asking about it, saying things like, Oh, great, you know, how can I become a speaker? Or how can I get great at the skill of drumming, or art or whatever I’m into. Because those are the things that I know are actually going to keep them healthy and making good decisions is because they’re focusing on better things and their goals and their future and their health. So normally, when you speak, you don’t get to hear those conversations afterwards. But since it, I was close to those people. We got to hear those cool, really cool stories.

That’s amazing. Yeah, it was, it was cool to be able to see just how it affected you and how it impacted you and like your speech, you know, being at the school that you went.

Igniting Momentum in Substance-Free Futures

Yeah, yeah, I can cut it kind of comes from a different place. Because relate to everything that they do, like you can name the spots in town where they hang out, and you can name the spot at the school where something happened to you. You know, the school mascots and all the quirks of the building and everything like that. So it’s it’s pretty cool. Pretty cool. Should we should we talk about the event that this year and like they named the club and everything so Jesse with your permission for John back on the spot, again, kind of share like the momentum that’s happening with the student club and what y’all are up to?

So I guess this falls on me. Yeah, so. So the event so within like, the groups, you know, we tried to see, like, where their interest was with them, like policy and substance free event, you know, where would they want to hold it? What would what would the theme be? Like all the things that go into it? So ultimately, they came up with the glow in the dark about volleyball and Just Dance. At the, we did at the Boys and Girls Club. It was, was awesome. It was it was really cool. Just to see them have like the independence to know like they did this, you know, they plan this they put all this effort and in on like, nobody told them what to do and nobody like, like they came up with a CNR. So that was really cool to be able to see ya, and just seeing that just be naturals at it. Yeah, just Yeah.

The the crazy thing too is you can attest to this, Jesse, when we got to the venue and just said, Hey, here’s we just reminded them of the plan. And then had them take on a couple of aspects. Like, literally, I remember this tell me if I remember correctly or not. I remember us basically saying, Hey, here’s your plan that you said you want to do. Here are the key areas that need to happen for it to take place. Who wants to volunteer for this one? Great, wants to volunteer for this one. So we just helped identify what needs to be delegated. And from there, we didn’t have to do anything. Like they did the entire event. They let it they ran the tournament. They got teams involved, they promoted they did like they did everything and they were excited about it. That was like cool to see from a new group like they’re they’re a very fresh new group. And it was just a month after we had put them together and did the school assemblies and sparked the student club. Like a month later. That’s happening. Can you tell us a little bit about your format of the the groups and when they met.

So we If we met once a week, it was a city wide group where students from each middle school, whether they went to whichever one throughout the city, it could come to this group. And then we also had a group directly in one middle schools, where the Dean of Students was just very, very motivated to further the mission for the cause, you know, and that’s been amazing to see. Just to have it directly in the school was like, just a game changer, you know, like, we, I mean, we ran around the school in the dinosaur costumes because of that, and, you know, like, we got the permission through that. And just doing all the things, you know, do like how can we promote the events, you know, making bookmarks, fly flyers, passing them out during lunch, you know, doing that in the group and just giving those students this, that area for them to like, Okay, this is, this is your job within this, you pass out these flyers, you know, make up the design for the bookmarks. And yeah, just the group’s always making sure we have some type of font Moran library, we’re having some kind of activity game, you know, it doesn’t all have to be serious, we can have fun. In the last group that we did, we’ve done this game twice now. So there’s a, there’s a bucket, and then some holes in the bucket, and you got roped gone through. And each student in each person has to grab the rope. And often there’s no rope lapped, and you put something on top of the bucket. And so like, if I have the end of a row, somebody else has the other end. So we got to make sure like we’re all that like, at the same time. So the buckets not flipping and trying to like move whatever objects on top of the bucket.

It’s cool. Like I got fun team bonding game, it sounds like

Definitely  got to communicate and work together, you know? Yeah.

I thought you’re gonna go into a tug of war game. And I say, cool to see that, sir. I have a team bond and kind of collaborative.

Right, the tug of war version, they’ll might be good for your next event. Some competition. Yeah, especially with summer coming around the corner. So that’s awesome. And now the students are the students are interested in going beyond the events, and starting to really, really influence their schools and communities to identify problems that they see and how they can solve them. Which I was really encouraged by just their name they came up with so they branded their club, Substance Free futures. I think they came up with a slogan you said, which is like, a health the substance free.

Yeah, I love that.

It’s amazing. Yeah, it’s so cool. So the I mean, just this single event, has not only given them leadership opportunities, they’re involved in the club. But now they’re fired out, they want to brand it. And they want to continue the mission to expand it beyond the events, which is we know, when we come up, came up with this four step plan that was part of it, is that the event is not be the end all be all. It’s really the beginning of a movement where they know that they’re empowered to do awesome things. And they’re getting their friends involved. And they can expand the club to focus on greater things. So you and I were talking about this is like, so do we keep doing events? Do we move on to other stuff? And I was like, yes, to both your is event planning should be part of it, maybe something you do every quarter or something like that, or every semester, but then it’s really talking about the next step, which the students have really, really leaned into as well, which is changing your school culture and building a better social norm, and talking about healthy choices and celebrating them. And also identifying the things that cause drug use. Things like mental health issues and trauma and maybe not having basic needs confidence, all this stuff. And so they’re they’re tackling those things now. By they want to do what she called, like a, like a sticker campaign, and spreading messages throughout posters throughout the school, to make people feel really I’m at at ease when they ask for help to let them know that, hey, no problem is too small, you don’t have to compare your issues with someone else’s. Because that’s something that they identified was holding people back from asking for help. So I’m super encouraged as somebody who gets to come in, you know, you know, for a week at a time, every once in a while knowing that y’all are on the ground, keeping the momentum going. And I think the students feel that because they are, they are really taking the lead and coming up with some transformational ideas.

That is incredible that they’re doing this. You could never plan for what they’re where they’re taking it, you know, the guy could have never came up with everything that they’re doing, you know?

Absolutely. And, you know, the I, I did speak with the Oshkosh North communities group to the high school student, which I love the format of that to like a, like a senior class or a junior class class that has to do a community project, so breakwater can partner up with them to do that. So they’re all They’re all fired up to go get sponsors for their, for their event, and their fundraiser. So that was.

They ended up  getting 12 sponsors. Yeah, you gave them all the tips and they they went to the moon what they did, yeah. credible, their, their event does coming up, you’re soon to know.

I’m so glad to hear that. Because I remember when they went to ask the question, I was like, hey, no worries, like, celebrate what you did, because that was practice. But here’s what’s gonna work. And then I remember saying this and instantly was like, should I have said that? I said, Hey, if this doesn’t work, I’ll be your first sponsor. I’ll throw like 300 bucks at you. If this doesn’t work, and I was like, oh, it’s better. Like a works for everyone else. So it is gonna work. Okay, but I was like, I might be putting my foot in my mouth. But that’s amazing to hear. 12 sponsors. Oh, man, they must be on top of the world right now. That’s so cool.

Spreading Inspiration and Support: Join the Movement with Breakwater Coalition

Yeah, it is amazing. Well, before we, for we end the podcast here. Do I have a question for you. No, I don’t think you’re gonna refuse this. I feel like this is exactly what what you do. Would you be willing to have the students from Substance Free futures interview you for the podcast?

Yeah, it’s, I know, I’ll double up. I would love to have them interview me, which probably would pull out some more fun stories and stuff like that. But also, would love to have them on my podcast, that Drug Prevention Power Hour, and have them talk about all this stuff that we’re we’re chatting about now, too, and then them share their stories and that doozy adds them. So? Yeah, please ask them both when they when you ask him for that. That’d be great.

Definitely, well, stay tuned for the next episode of the Breakwater  podcast where we will have the students interviewing Jake. I’ll see how that goes.

Awesome. Thanks for having me, Jesse, and John. All right. I hope you enjoyed that episode of the Breakwater Coalition podcast, and the Drug Prevention Power Hour. And here’s what I’ll know, my wife mentioned that, if you like she’s like, I want to see the dinosaur costumes. Can you show us so if you want to see us hanging out with students in dinosaur costumes and all the fun they had, hop on to our Instagram or Tiktok page, and it’s Vive 18, V-i-V-e one, eight. Check it out, you’ll find those on our on our feed. And those are fun, really fun videos. The other thing is if you are struggling to start a youth coalition or youth prevention club, and you need help, do not hesitate to contact us. We would be happy we offer free consultations. It’s 30 minute deal just to learn about you and your community and then give you some real practical tips you can implement right now. That’s free of charge. You could schedule that go on vibe eighteen.com and just send us a message saying hey, I would love a free call to discuss our youth prevention efforts. We’re happy like if I could have a day just doing that one day a week. I just filled it with those. That’d be amazing. In case I haven’t told you in a little bit, keep up the amazing work that you’re doing. It’s important. The mission is amazing. And we would love to support you however we can and we’ll see you next It’s Monday on another episode of the Drug Prevention Power Hour.