“Youth Takeover Episode: Student Ambassador David Tejero Leads a Conversation on Drug Prevention with Student Leaders”

Welcome back. This is not your average episode of Party Talk. Yes, we’re going to empower leaders and youth drug prevention, but I will not be your host. Nope, I’ve taken the reins, and I’ve given them to David Tejero. David is one of our student ambassadors. He lives in Washington State. He’s a senior in high school, and he is taking over today’s episode. I am so excited for this. Number one, this is a great leadership opportunity for him getting to host his own podcast episode get experience doing something like this. It’s nerve racking sometimes. And I gave him a format to follow. And I’m just so proud of him, he did a fantastic job, he interviewed some incredible student leaders from a different state, actually two different states. And so I, I know you’re going to enjoy this episode, because we get to listen in on, you know, three, four high school students talking about drug prevention, you know, what’s working, what’s fun, what’s challenging, what’s not working, and it’s going to allow us to get better. And I just love the fact that they got to do something, you know, completely pure lead, which at Vive 18. This is what we’re all about, giving students real leadership opportunities, you know, pouring into them, giving them training to do something new. And I know that David’s just going to continue to get better at this because it’s something he, he’s passionate about. And in our program, you know, we have different areas where we can invest in these students, and their opportunities to learn. And this is one of them, he’s really passionate about it. So I’m excited to see what the next one looks like too. Just to give you a heads up on the format. So this is a YTE or youth takeover episode, and you’ll see them in the future. The next one will probably be with Jordan, one of our other ambassadors, who’s out in Missouri. And so, yeah, please let us know what you think about the format. Let us know, if you have some students that might want to be featured. We would love to, you know, feature your students in your coalition, and give them that experience and that leadership opportunity to represent your coalition on this really cool platform. So enjoy this episode. And we’ll see you on the other side.

“Empowering Youth Voices: Student Leaders Summer and Hadley Share Their Prevention Initiatives”

Welcome to the Party talk podcast where we Empower leaders in youth drug prevention. I’m your host, David Tejero. And today we’re talking with summer, and Hadley and her friend, it’s, we love to be here. So tell me about yourself and what what’s your role? And what do you do on a daily basis? Let’s start with summer.

Okay, hi, I’m Summer Porter.  I’m from Lubra, Virginia, and I work with a group called Page Alliance for Community Action. And I work as a part of the youth group. I am the youth president, slash leader. And right now I am currently working on my own research project, which involves building a community center. So a lot of my prevention work right now is focused on that. But in the schools, we do things such as prevention, education, and mental health awareness. So we’re just starting a new club now. So hopefully that gets going.

Wow, that’s, that’s great. So how’d you,  How’d you come up to with that? Was your project was the automatic idea.

Yeah, so I go to a separate school. So I go to two schools. And one of my schools is a call to Governor school, which requires you to do a whole research class. So you have to have your own research project, I actually started my research for the community center about a year ago just on my own pen. And I just worked creating like a meta analysis. And I worked with my local community organizations to pull data. And then I took my principles kind of just going through the things and I focused a lot on, like what our schools qualify for. So like, Title One, and stuff like that. So that’s when I created a meta analysis. And then this year, I started working more like, I’m actually trying to start like building an OSI. And I met a really cool guy in my community who has actually been working on something similar for a couple of years. So right now we’re communication and we’re waiting on a budget proposal to get back for the second time. And he’s got his own floor pans and stuff. So I’m working on finding grants and stuff for that right now. So hopefully get that sorted.

Wow, that’s, that’s amazing. That’s that’s really great as I love your project, thanks. So Hadley. Tell me about yourself, role and what you do on a day to day.

Wow, I’m happy I’m Um, so we have a youth coalition, basically, and offered our communities really small. And so we can do that also stuff like sour stirring. But we are just like trying to prevent, like teens from doing substance abuse and really focusing on their mental health, because that plays a big factor in it. And me and my friend, she’s taken care of a baby. But we were, like one of the leaders, part of this coalition. And so we’re, she’ll actually be going to DC for the talk.

No way I’m actually going to DC as well. I have other Yeah, hopefully, you’ll find me. If not, there should be a Vive 18 table like a booth where you can talk to Jake, which is the CEO of this company. And you can go from there. But anyways, do not let your, the small community affect, like your ideas, right? Is that that shouldn’t stop you from doing something this great, is, I’m on the same boat as you. Our community is small. And even though there’s a little, like small participate, late participation from the community, towards this and like our peers, we still strive to do like the best, which is great. But I really love what you’re in, keep doing it, because it’s, it really helps people.

And trust me, sorry, I’m gonna interrupt. But trust me when I say I’m also from an incredibly small community, and we’re geographically isolated, we have balance on all sides. So it’s kind of hard to, like get out of our community. And the, like, the purpose of the community center would be specifically because we are such like a small rural town would be like a central meeting place. So we talk about like title one, that’s like, almost almost half the kids qualify for free lunch because they make like, or their families don’t make enough income to support like them in schools. So 100%, like understand being from like, a small rural town. And it’s, it’s incredibly hard. Like, we don’t have that much participation either. And it just takes a lot of work. So definitely. I’m glad that like, we kind of all have like a central, because I think that’s something that’s like good for us to talk.

For sure. For sure. So again, Hadley, how’d you, how’d you get into this kind of work? Like what, what moved you to this prevention work?

So, my sister was actually one of the people that created our youth coalition and our schools. And so when I was like, younger, like, I was like, I always wanted to be in it. So, like, I came into high school, I started like, just getting involved and that.

“Overcoming Challenges in Youth-Led Prevention: Perspectives from Summer and Hadley”

Yeah, but that’s awesome. It’s awesome. Okay, moving on, what’s a project event or initiative you’ve worked on? That went really well? And tell us about that. I’ll start with you Hadley.

So while we really tried to focus on families trying to be connected, so we do a lot of like family drive-ins, and try theory like games and stuff and then like, we gave him like packages to go home to very close for the family. Because family is like a really big support and and like mental health.

Yeah, for sure. What steps did you take to make that happen?

Um, so our County sends us money. So we’re able to big screens and like, right, like the Counties, they’re like buildings we have. And so we’re able to, like use that as, like part of to get everyone together. And then we actually have to, like our coalition or not another coalition and we all combine to meet up and then we all work together.

Yeah. I’ll put someone else try to replicate which in case someone in the audience is listen want to replicate.

So like, I’m someone who’s listening they could like, like, they could start off like small maybe like talk to like, people they know, like, in their county or in the schools. They hate me in the script. People really want to have like a family bonding night.

So summer, what’s a project that went really well for you? Tell us about that.

Well okay. I guess I’ll probably talk about the one that we did probably a year ago with another program in Virginia. And we did their conference. And like within their conference, you had to create a proposal and a plan that you plan to implement in your community. And then you had to send it in and present it. And it was for grant money. So we did that last two, two years ago, and we ended up getting a mini grant, which was, I forgot exactly how much it was. But it was enough for us implement our project. And that was begin driving prevention in the driver’s ed classrooms. So what we did was we got these little what we call swag bags, and we put some information and the little gifts in the swag bags. And then we set up some curriculum for the driver’s ed courses. And the theory was that you take Driver’s Ed and within your driver’s ed classes, there’s one day or there’s a segment that talks specifically about drinking and driving and the problems behind that, and just what that can cause. And we handed all those swag bags out to the graduating driver’s ed classrooms that year. And then the second year, we won the big grant for that, from that program, and we did that I community engagement. So we just got a couple things that we thought would be good to have that every community event, so we got like a snow cup machine. And that was just kind of like a fun thing that we could have at all our events.

Yeah, that’s good. Yeah, you’ve made investments that that could you take like you could take for me, like every event that you do. That’s, that’s, that’s good. Again, with a driver’s ed day, I, I kind of did something similar, but not exactly. So it’s just in the field. Why did was I made a PSA. Well, it wasn’t just but yeah, my friends. You made a PSA. That’s like 30 seconds long. It was. It was so it was it was bad that it was so good. Yeah. That basically, like the distracted driving, all that stuff that you need to buckle up, and all that stuff when you’re driving. So yeah, I can I can relate to that. Yeah. All right. Moving on. This field can be tough sometimes. Right? Like, prevention, and all that stuff. So and things don’t go to plan, or in the plan. There’s lots of moving pieces and lots of partners involved. What’s the challenge you face? In your work so far? Let’s start with Hadley.

I’ve been. I’m sorry. Um, I think money has been a big problem and like trying to get like permission to do things. Because like our state’s like really starting to limit how many people we can take to like, like, where they call in trainings and stuff. And so we’re not being able to like, able to, like have everyone come and help. So I think that’s probably our hardest part.

So you said the state was holding is holding you back? Is that what you said?

Yeah, so you know, like, last summer, like we went to Texas and stuff. Yeah. Well, they’re only letting two people from each town like coalition’s so like, it’s just hard to because there’s like a lot of members in our coalition and they only take two from each coalition. And they change that. Because Jessica was supposed to come with us for like, she thought she’d already take like two from each side of the county. Where you could take more there just be like extra guys. I think. Yeah. Well, it’d harder  to take out people from out of state. So

Yeah, like how how did it feel that like you can’t be able to go to these like trainings that are kind of detrimental. Like you need these lessons to move forward in the prevention work that you do. But you can’t get it because you’re  not there like how did it make you feel and how does Yeah, how do you go overcome that?

So I really think it’s just like they take like the miles and I was like advanced to like not participated. And so I was lucky to go to Texas and then like my friend will be going into DC. So I didn’t even like works well, but like I lost still go to DC, but they don’t let us go more than once. And I think that’s like, hard because like, when you’re starting to learn something, and then you can’t keep progressing learning it, it’s just hard.

Yeah, right. Moving on to Summer, what’s something that didn’t really go according to your plan? And because again, there’s a lot of moving pieces. Part is involves prevention. So what’s the biggest challenge you face so far Summer.

Same thing money, money is yeah, impossible, it’s always impossible. Especially as a youth, someone that it’s not an adult and doesn’t work in your coalition. getting anything done without the permission from your supervisor, or just having money in general, is really, really difficult. So like the community center, that was my biggest limiting factor was working on my own, I just don’t have like $5 million laying around. And that, like no one does, like, I know that awkward thing. But even getting it to pose to my community is very, very hard, because nobody wants to hear something that’s like $4 million. Like, it’s a lot, because you kind of have to show them that this will be benefiting the community, especially because like my community really lacks like a central meeting place. Or any type of like, place that like, especially teens can go. But it’s hard to push that past people when like, they’re only really look at the price tag. And I know that been always really limited and assessed with my coalition. It’s like the same thing about the training says, we don’t have like, my use section really isn’t that big? Like, we have probably like, seven or eight core core people. Yeah, um, both of our counties. Like, I have gone to multiple ones just because like, I’m one of the ones that is most like, me, and my other people are like the most dedicated, we just don’t have that like big. Or we don’t have like a lot of people to pull for even for adults. So yeah, exactly. I think all coalition’s lack funding. And there’s just an awful budget a week or things that we have to go out there, especially because we’re technically supposed to do preventing prevention, and we get funding from the state and we get funding from the federal government if you apply for grants. Yeah, but there’s just a lot of things you have to satisfy and a lot of reporting to do. So that’s why same thing.

Yeah, like, see, what you’re doing is, is good because you’re creating a third place for people. Like, I went, I went to this leadership camp this summer, where all they talked about was a third place for people. Like, we like in our society, as of right now. We have a house and work and then house. Like, again, they give an example. Like a Starbucks. I think that’s their motto, I’m not sure but Starbucks drives, create third place for people where they like, the stress, and just like calm down from the daily hustle a lot like the daily hustle, you know, so created a third place for people is very essential. Like, as we’re humans, right, we’re social creatures. We need that human interaction with each other. And I think that’s very important. So, like, maybe if you need help with like, like, doesn’t like presenting that to your county? You should it should use that the third place for people. Yeah, that could work if.

We don’t have a Starbucks, so we’ve had some kind of built so I feel like that could work.

“Navigating Prevention Pet Peeves: Insights from Summer and Hadley”

Yeah, for sure. What are you guys prevention pet peeves, like something that you wish would stop doing eventually? You’ll something that you wish we’d stopped doing? Yeah.

Honestly, I would probably say people, adults trying to really really like freeplay closely trying to relate with like how teenagers feel. I feel like it’s kind of that social media and I don’t want to use like the word cringey because I don’t want to like offend anybody and like my adult advisors are very hardworking and they’re very like hands off and they let us do a lot but just like going to things like Khadka and maybe seeing like other coalition’s and they talked about it a lot and their training, which is why I really like that they’re like your youth talks best to your youth. So let them talk and dope Like over in their stuff, because I feel sometimes that comes out divide when you have an adult that’s trying to talk to you in a very youth way. But you’re not understanding because you still almost see them as an adult and they’re not talking to you. Like you would talk to a peer. I kind of just think that I don’t, that’s not, I wouldn’t say it’s like a pet peeve or something that I really hate. But I think that’s something that definitely could. If it was, if there wasn’t as much, maybe that would clarify some information and just more communication and maybe increase the chances that what you’re trying to prevent, will actually be prevented.

Yeah. How about, how about you Hadley? What, what are your prevention pet peeves?

Honestly, I don’t 100% agree with her. One out still. I did. Like, there’s a lot of things that kind of bugged me sometimes. Tell us about it. Tell us about it. Oh, but to be able to spot? Um, I don’t know, I feel like something about like, kind of like, gets my go a little bit is like, when parents, like when their child is like struggling with addiction or suicidal thoughts or something. They’ll like, downplay it, and be like, Oh, no, my kid would never, instead of like, we’re trying to help them, but they won’t let us help. Yeah, you get what I’m saying?

Yeah. That’s, unfortunately, that’s something that we face almost every day. Right? Yeah. Like, it’s one person at a time. Or hundreds, that’s what happens. But, yeah, that’s that’s the thing. It’s, you can’t really push people to do what needs to be done. If, if that makes sense. Almost feels like a very huge divide with the teens. And that are youth advisors. Where do you take over, but gives us the responsibility that when you’re the leader should be taken care of.

And yeah, I agree It’s no one’s fault. It’s really not. It’s just everything socially is always changing and progressing. And sometimes there’s a lack of understanding that this always happens that that always happens. And that is realistic. And I think that that just needs to be communicated more efficiently between all teens and adults, in order to ensure that you are educating your youth and your peers the best way you can, but also not talking to them. Like, they don’t know what they’re doing. Because we’re all in high school now. Like, we’re all. We’re all kind of independent, so you know, what you should be doing? And I think that’s just like the best way to ensure the most effective communication.

“Empowering Newcomers: Advice from Summer and Hadley in Youth Drug Prevention”

Yeah, I agree. If you were talking to someone who’s brand new in the field, inside, there, had been given the exact same job title, and work in the similar community. What would you give them? What advice would you give them? Let’s start with Summer.

Um, I would just say, be persistent, and go after what you think is right. But also make sure what you think is right is what the community wants and also thinks is right. It’s hard to get, and back a lot of your ideas, or proposals, if you don’t have that community score. And again, you are serving your community, you are a figurehead for your community and for your youth group, or for whatever cause you’re you’re working for, you should know. And try to understand each problem and the community that is present and needs to be taken care of. In order to improve your community to the best of your ability.

Yeah, for sure. So, how about you Hadly if you were given, if someone with the same exact job title is you working with similar community, what advice would you give?

I would say probably really get to know like your community, like what’s like going on in the community you need to work on at or you got to really listen. And like what you thought and it just like, really be there for like a good reason. And like, really, like be determined to help someone.

Yeah  yeah, so thank you in the audience. If you’re listening, thank you, thank you. If you are listening, please leave a review and follow the podcast and if you enjoy that concept. Announcements, next week is a CADCA Forum. I will meet one of you Hadley’s friend there. Hopefully we’ll meet you there. And see you next Monday for another episode of Party Talk we Empowered leaders and use drug prevention