Young Adult Spotlight: Tyler Gulick

By Michelle Hartel: Executive Director

Social isolation and loneliness are major public health crises linked to severe mental health declines, including alarming rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. In Eagle County alone, half of young adults ages 18-30 reported feeling so sad or hopeless for two weeks or more that they stopped doing their usual activities, one third of young adults have seriously considered suicide and 9% have attempted suicide, according to a recent 2025 survey conducted by Mountain

Youth. The Harvard Study of Adult Development is the longest-running study of happiness in history. It began in 1938 and followed 724 men, eventually including their spouses and descendants, to better understand what really keeps people healthy and happy. The biggest takeaway is pretty simple: strong, warm relationships have a bigger impact on our happiness and health than money, fame, social class, or even genetics. For these reasons, as well as to simply share stories and enjoy the company of others, local resident Tyler Gulick offers a simple call to action: bring back the dinner party, and gather for the sake of connection. 

As a CMC student working toward his Human Services Degree, Tyler recently got involved with Mountain Youth as a summer intern, helping to advise on their MOYA Young Adult work. MOYA is guided by young adults ages 18-30, for young adults in the community, aiming to identify needs and provide fun, enriching connection opportunities to this vulnerable population. Cameron Dole, Mountain Youth’s Senior Manager of Youth Engagement, describes, “Tyler's passion for connection and supporting the young adult community have helped slingshot the MOYA efforts- specifically partnerships with CMC and local yoga and meditation leaders. He is always excited to plan and host a 'fresh' event to reach diverse audiences with varying interests. We're incredibly lucky to have Tyler leading this work with us, and helping to introduce as many young adults to MOYA.”. 

Tyler brings perspectives of mindfulness and holistic life approaches to his role with Mountain Youth. Tyler is eager to kick off a Five-Week Meditation Series at The Art Guild on Benchmark Road in Avon, taking place on Tuesdays beginning September 1 from 6-7:30pm, open to any young adult in the community. These sessions prioritize spending quality time together in shared practice, and the opportunity to share stories over Chai and Cookies. Tyler chose a meditation series as his culmination project as spiritual and contemplative practices are core to him living a balanced and grateful life. It seemed like a very enjoyable way for him to integrate his foundation in the natural world with the critical opportunity for individuals to connect. In reflecting on his internship, Tyler shares, “I feel empowered to be brought onto a team and immediately be welcomed as a contributor. There was no period of time of wondering; my ideas were received well and integrated immediately.” 

Tyler has seen progress in new ideas and spaces, yet it can be incredibly challenging to get involved in a small, intentional community when you are new to an area. Tyler has faith that the September Meditation Series and other free MOYA activities will open a doorway for any young adult to join welcoming spaces and build meaningful connections. 

It can be difficult seeing humans act and feel much busier than they really are. Why is this the case? Why does it seem like success is measured by how many extra curricular activities or vacations one has packed in their calendar, instead of the quality of their human relationships?

The young adult age group is often overlooked with social supports. Based on the data above, there is a huge opportunity to build community and health behaviors with young adults living and working in Eagle County. Phenomenal specialized services exist locally for specific sub populations- Mountain Pride offers life-saving supports to the LGBTQIA+ population, Reconnected has grown services for individuals in recovery, and the list goes on. Until MOYA, there was no broader focus on supporting young adults simply through the act of gathering. Tyler’s experience practicing Bhakti, the Yoga of Love and Service, is what drives him to consider service as his spiritual path, and continues to empower him to create soul-serving music with friends. Tyler enjoys connecting with like-minded individuals through walking, discussing books, sharing meals, and playing music. In this way, supporting young adults through simple enrichment and connection is a natural fit for Tyler. 

Mountain Youth appreciates Tyler living with intention, reminding us to slow down, and embodying service and connection in our community. 

A full calendar of MOYA and other Mountain Youth activities can be found HERE.