Written by Michele Zoller, Operations Manager Identity can be an interesting path to explore for anyone, especially adolescents. Melayna Medina Eaton has grown up in Gypsum and is a freshman at Eagle Valley High School. To Melayna, family comes first and her family is rich in heritage, coming from both Mexican and Cherokee descent. She has two brothers- a senior at Eagle Valley High School and another at Gypsum Creek Middle School. She is very interested in exploring her Cherokee background through her grandmother and ancestors who started a museum in Oklahoma. Melayna is teaching herself the Cherokee language as well as taking Spanish in her high school classes. She looks to her grandmother Deena as a mentor and her biggest supporter. Melayna is taking this knowledge from her grandmother and trying to figure out who she is, who she wants to become, and what she wants to do in her community and her future career. Melayna is tremendously well-rounded in her extracurricular activities playing basketball, cross country, and track as well. She embraces a deep interest in the creative arts and music, playing the electric and acoustic guitar and teaching herself the Cherokee Flute. Her love of the arts has pointed her in the direction of pursuing a future career in Digital Design. In the community, Melayna is involved with Young Life as well as Valley’s Voice thru Mountain Youth. She loves being involved and making new connections; this makes her the happiest. She really hopes the Gypsum community comes together to continue to create opportunities for more events and to get to know more people. Melayna has an interest in Trauma Based Therapy and would love to get more training in helping others that have experienced trauma. This training has sparked a new idea for Melayna. She has conceptualized a Valley’s Voice passion project of starting a peer group where those who have experienced trauma have a safe space among peers to talk and form a community where no one has a feeling of being alone. Melayna is a bright hard-working student with a great future ahead of her and a heart to help others along the way. We are proud of you and cannot wait to follow your path!

I first met David Garcia as an eighth-grade student at Eagle Valley Middle School during the 2009/2010 school year as his science teacher. I knew at the time that David exuded leadership, service, a desire to learn, and more than anything David had strong family values. Many years passed us by, and in 2018 I had the honor and privilege of reconnecting with him in a professional setting. I was not one bit shocked to see David making a deep impact on the Eagle County community. More impressively, he does not believe he is doing anything beyond just being a good person. His passion is to help others and make a difference in this community, which comes naturally to David. David learned the art of service at a young age, when his mom would volunteer at his school. She enrolled him in the SOS Outreach where David was able to grow within the organization, and follow in his mom’s footsteps by giving back to the community. Both of his parents knew the importance of education, and thanks to their constant support he graduated with a Bachelors of Exercise Science from Colorado Mesa University. With the help of Ronald Davis who ran the Guardian’s Scholarship, David was able to go to university debt free and make a lot of great connections. David currently serves as the Mentor Coordinator and Youth Center Manager at My Future Pathways (MFP), which is a Latino-led organization that helps local youth discover their passions and turn them into a career path. At MFP, it is understood that the Latino community (especially the boys) struggle to meet certain academic requirements, therefore they give them the resources to help them succeed. This includes academic support, health and wellness classes, and intellectual conversations to expose them to higher education. The kids that participate in MFP are David’s main source of motivation. Seeing them succeed, no matter how big or small, will always bring David immense joy and happiness. Many of the youth in our community need support and David is there for them. Most young people simply need a platform to speak their mind. According to David, a lot of these kids struggle in silence because they either 1) don’t have a friend or mentor to talk to, 2) don’t know what to do, 3) are too shy to speak, or 4) are any combination of the above. They need a support system that will help them find their voice and validate their feelings. For the many young people who are out there who have no idea what they want to do with their lives, David shares, “Don’t give up, keep searching. I remember being ‘stuck’ in certain chapters of my life. Looking back now, I realize that every struggle and success has led me to where I am today. Don’t give up- keep going!” David embodies perseverance, and currently has a sharp focus to work with various community partners to build an all-in-one youth center in Eagle County. His vision is to provide a safe and fun environment that is filled with an opportunity for everyone, no matter how big or small. David’s biggest motivator is Bratzo Horruitiner, the Executive Director of MFP. Working with Bratzo has definitely helped him grow professionally. There is no struggle, hurdle, or situation that does not have an answer. Bratzo’s style of managing and leading is creative and adaptive, and that has definitely influenced David’s style of working in this community as well. To any teenager reading this, here is David’s advice, “Please don’t give up on your dreams. I know the peak of your goals and ambitions looks far away, but the journey is what will make you into the person you need to be in order to get that goal. My biggest value at the moment is adaptability, so learn how to adapt to the ever-changing world around you, and seize the opportunity!”.

Written by: Michelle Stecher, Executive Director “A leader is best known when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say; we did it ourselves,” Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher and writer. This quote is a solid reflection of how Steele McClinton, junior at Vail Christian High School, shows up to support her peers. A quiet and inquisitive young lady, Steele said her good friends would describe her as an “extroverted introvert,” someone who is quiet at first and opens up and gets comfortable quickly in certain environments. Steele creates a tranquil and relaxed space and she is constantly attentive to the feelings and emotions of those around her. When talking with her, 100% of her focus and presence is felt. She lives her life with the unique attribute of continuously putting herself in other people’s shoes. “I can feel for people; hurt with people. It is easy for humans to judge others and we need to remember- we do not know what is going on in their life,” Steele reflects. This outlook has enabled her to make new and unexpected friendships, and offered her the confidence to call someone out if they are coming off as rude or insensitive. Steele offers an observation of her generation in her mature and sincere fashion. While it has been extremely uneasy and challenging as an adolescent responding to COVID-related restrictions and pressures on social media, this generation is open to talking about very hard and deep topics, such as mental health. Steele and her peers impress with their maturity in engaging in friendly debate when they don’t see eye to eye. They understand the benefits of talking about mental health, providing persistent support and maintaining respect, even through disagreement. Steele’s perspective of accepting someone as honest and deserving of trust regardless of the circumstance is heavily inspired by her parents. “My mom was a therapist and is great at uncovering deeper emotions, and my father is the kind of person that strangers will share their full life story with,” she explains. Other role models in Steele’s life have included coaches and teachers, especially her assistant basketball coach. Steele describes, “Coach Elizinga understands when I am frustrated, offers much-needed perspective, is funny and easy to talk to. She believes in me.” Research shows that trusted adults are a primary protective factor, or asset, that helps build resilience in young people. Here in Eagle County a whopping 70% of high schoolers and 72% of middle schoolers reported having an adult they can go to for help with a serious problem; I urge you to keep in mind during your interactions with young people that your words and behaviors can have a significant impact (2019 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey). Steele has made it a priority to get involved with a variety of opportunities, and her biggest piece of advice to younger peers is to get involved- even if the activities push your comfort zone. An avid athlete- volleyball, basketball and soccer- Steele finds time off the court and field to serve others. Her volunteer roster is impressive. Loaves and Fishes has been a volunteer highlight for years, having fun cooking and serving free meals to the community while getting to meet new and unique neighbors. Steele has been involved with the newly launched Vail Christian B.I.O.N.I.C club (Believe It Or Not I Care), aiming to reach out and connect with fellow peers. Steele describes, “If someone is going through a tough time, it can make a big difference to write a thoughtful card and offer them a little candy treat.” B.I.O.N.I.C was originally established after a wave of teen suicides in Lakewood, Colorado. Vail Christian’s student-led team organizes fun activities to connect and ensures young people reach out to peers during times of crisis. This student-led approach is a theme with Steele’s engagements, having served as a volunteer member of the Board of Directors of Mountain Youth since January of 2021. With roughly one third of the organizations 501(c)3 Board comprised of local students, all major decisions are made with youth voice and priorities front-of-mind. “It is important to build skills and to have a voice in decisions. If people can start listening to us now, we can start creating change today,” Steele summarizes. Whether Steele pursues a path in sports psychology, astrophysics, or a field she has yet to discover, we are eager to follow her path in making a positive impact on others.

Amy Baker is a caring educator and lifelong learner who is committed to giving back to the community. Amy is kind, passionate, and determined. She is constantly seeking professional development and resources to better support people of all ages and all challenges. Amy has been teaching yoga, meditation, and mindfulness for over two decades. She has a degree in Exercise Science and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health. Her core coaching style is based on the belief that everyone has the answers and clarity they seek within themselves. She believes that children are the future and enjoys sharing these tools with them. As Family Education Manager at Mountain Youth, she incorporates mindfulness practices into the Eat Chat Parent conversations she offers in our community, which include speakers like Kate Fagan, Rosalind Wiseman, and Dr. Laura Markham, among others, who discuss culturally relevant topics and engage curious parents, teens, and caregivers. These dialogues provide an opportunity for families to come together, be present in the moment, and learn and develop together. “Amy Baker’s innovation and creativity have brought in inspiring and well-respected speakers to educate our community on important and timely issues. Amy has recognized the impact of bringing parents together (virtual and in-person) and offering them support during some of the most challenging times we have experienced. She has built and fostered a much-needed space for families to begin to talk about mental health and realize they are not alone in some of their struggles. Eat Chat Parent provides this warm, welcoming, safe space for families to feel supported and empowered, thanks to Amy.” says Denise Kipp. Amy has added vibrancy and depth to our community's dialogue. She has brought in a slew of best-selling authors and educators from throughout the country to guide adolescents and parents in meaningful discussions about relationships, self-awareness, insecurity, technology, social understanding, self-management, and other pressing concerns in their lives. These remarkable conversations give parents great tools on how to deal with stressful situations and how to be better parents. One Eat Chat Parent attendee said, “Eat Chat Parent is a true gift to our valley. They bring in a wide array of speakers from No. 1 New York Times best-selling authors to ESPN reporters to local mental and physical health experts.” Amy has done an incredible job creating safe spaces to discuss tough topics and learn strategies on how to help parents and their youth. If you are interested in joining one of these conversations, you are in luck- March 28th and 29th New York Times best-selling author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation, Jessica Lahey, will be in Eagle County for two nights full of unique topics. Register to see Amy's work firsthand, and while you're there, tell her how much you appreciate all the work she does for our community.

Shooting for the Stars: Written by Cameron Dole Not every 17-year-old student is fascinated by velocity, physics, and math that can relate to real-world opportunities, but then there's Luis Cervantes. This month's youth spotlight is not your average junior at Eagle Valley High School; Luis is a driven scholar with an outgoing personality and a social nature. Here at Mountain Youth, we're lucky enough to get to work with Luis! Serving as a Youth Apprentice through Careerwise, Luis is excelling in his self-imposed challenges of project management, communication, and leadership. Luis plans and puts on monthly 'Middle School Night' opportunities for local youth to socialize and experience something that is not easily attainable. Additionally, Luis works with the prosocial high school event team to plan fun, safe events that attract a broad youth audience. Because of his ideas & work, many students from the Eagle Valley have been exposed to new events, learning opportunities, and an increase in positive youth experiences. Living in the valley his whole life, Luis cares for the land and people here. When he isn't busy studying, working, or relaxing, he can be found at Beaver Creek on his snowboard (with friends), at the Back-Bowls lanes or arcade (with friends), or playing soccer (with friends). He appreciates the open space that we have out here, not living 'super' close to neighbors, and experiencing fresh air throughout all four seasons. Besides being "not too sure about how cold it gets here," Luis loves the valley and shares life with his parents and two younger sisters. Luis attributes a good portion of his success to his parent's care stating that they've supported him all along. He is very grateful for their support and encouragement to be a better person. Yes, Luis' favorite subjects really are physics and science. Pursuing a career in astronomy/astrophysics, he is an excelling student with many ideas for improvement and ways to benefit others. Calculating the velocity of a bowling ball going down the lane (19.2 m/s), Luis has a passion and drive for this field, and it can't be shrouded! Future plans involve going to college studying this field more in-depth. Luis' high-ranking schools include The University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, and some schools in the University of California system. These schools have great astronomy programs and would set Luis up to work with NASA as a physicist or astronomer. His long-term dream is to go to the International Space System and research space and how vast yet fragile our universe is. Luis Cervantes has a lot of involvement, all lucky to have him! With a great heart, hard work-ethic, and a friendly smile, he is an Eagle County youth that will succeed and continue making a difference in the lives of others. Any conversation with Luis is a great one - he is always open to giving and getting feedback. We are very grateful for this young man and excited to see his progress through high school and beyond!

What fills your soul? For Jennifer Kennedy, owner of Dewey Dabbles, art fills her soul. Within a few minutes of speaking with her, you can sense her passion. Jennifer was hooked on art after taking her first art class at Anderson Ranch 19 years ago. She discovered a second home at her neighbor's art studio after volunteering there. Shortly after, she began bringing her adopted preteens to the studio after arriving in the Valley over a decade prior. After falling in love with the business, she jumped at the first chance to buy her neighbor's studio and has never looked back. Dewey Dabbles in Art opened its doors 13 years ago, named after their beloved family pug. Dewey Dabbles has evolved into more than just a place to create, paint your own pottery, or hold a birthday party. It has evolved into a safe space for all ages in our community. All levels of artists are encouraged to try out an art class or take a spin on the pottery wheel. Art allows us to connect with people on a deeper level. This is a place to get lost and unplug from your phone and the rest of the world's troubles. It's also a great location to meet new people and reconnect with old friends. Youth who participate in art programs get the opportunity to meet new people with similar interests outside of the school setting. Bullying is not accepted in the art studio, and discussions, rather than discipline, are encouraged. Jennifer believes that sharing personal stories and honest conversations go hand-in-hand with art. She fosters a welcoming environment for both adolescents and adults, to the point that they trust and confide in her because of her warm heart. Jennifer would not change a thing, even after a long or busy day; she genuinely enjoys what she does, and receiving a hug or a sketch from an attendee makes every long day worthwhile. If you are interested or maybe even afraid to try out art, Jennifer compares painting pottery to a coloring page. You can be simple or as intricate as you want; you don't have to be an artist at all, and she will help you every step of the way. To find out more or take a class, go to deweydabblesinart.com to sign up and learn from Jennifer, a wonderful and inspiring member of our community.

A good coach can change a game; a great coach can change a life. Melinda Brandt, head coach of Eagle Valley High School's cross country team, is precisely that coach. Melinda was chosen as this month's difference-maker because she is someone who supports student-athletes to perform at their highest potential and fosters exceptional, well-rounded individuals. In 2008, Melinda Brandt started the EVHS cross-country program. Melinda has impacted hundreds of athletes since then, beginning with 24 athletes in her first season and reaching a high of 60 student-athletes in one season. Melinda has embraced athletes of all abilities with open arms, promoting a welcoming and safe environment for cross country practice. This is an environment that has nurtured exceptional athletes, but it is not her only goal to make better athletes; it is vital for her to build on lifelong values and lessons of the sport and go beyond this by teaching skills by focusing on the mental, emotional, and social sides of a human. Practice is not only a place to improve one's running and endurance, but it is a place to make friends, build connections, and develop life-long skills. Melinda and the coaching staff invest in the whole individual, devoting time every practice to teach essential lessons outside of sports, such as developing a positive mindset and leadership skills. These leadership skills have been demonstrated through lead roles in school plays and as captains of speech and debate teams. Several of her former athletes are now using these skills to make a difference in our community, including Gerry Lopez, who uses running to support his mental health and assists youth in our valley with mental health and wellness, and Eddie Campos, who was named Young Professional of the Year for his outstanding leadership. Melinda says, “I am privileged to coach phenomenal athletes, and the students make her job fun and a joy to go to every day." Melinda isn't the only one having fun at practice. One athlete says, "Coach creates belonging, team spirit, and team collaboration." Melinda has created numerous ways to do that. Each week, she plans one fun thing to do: a color run, scavenger hunt, or team dinner. She wants to bring the kids together by doing something memorable. "If they aren't making connections while running, I want them bonding on other important things outside the sport - building connections and giving them tools to use later in life," Melinda says. A parent of a cross country athlete says, "Melinda believes in character, growth, camaraderie, and fun as much as competition, skills, and goal setting. Because of this mindset, she creates an environment where the team spirit is the foundation of the competitive spirit to elevate." Melinda has a history of helping produce successful athletes who enjoy their time on the team while achieving numerous accolades, such as having three athletes on the State podium in one season. Her success goes beyond the stats; athletes are able to develop into well-rounded individuals as a result of their experiences on the team. This is exactly why Melinda is not just a good coach, but a great one.

Gigi Stages a Solution! Written by: Sandy Schroeder, Director of Strategic Impact “This is for everyone!”  By “this”, Gigi means an opportunity to experience a theater club for young people.  By “everyone” she means people with theater experience, people with NO expertise, and those who are curious.  The “why” she is doing this is the reason she has been selected as the Youth Spotlight for this month. Georgianna OliverSmith (Gigi) has been around the stage since she was six years old.  It is what feeds her soul, the ability to artistically express herself, feel emotions, and develop her authentic self.  Now, as a junior at Battle Mountain High School, she continues to participate in the productions offered by the school.  But it’s just not enough. Gigi has noticed that when the final curtain falls on any given production, the people who, like her, thrive on the adrenaline that a production creates are left with an empty spot.  They need the emotional release. They need the connectedness that a “team” provides.  Being together, practicing without judgement, and bonding over the creation of a product for community consumption keeps people emotionally well.  Gigi is developing a solution to meet this exact need. Gigi, with the help of Valley’s Voice, is pitching a Theater Club.  Youth of any age or ability are welcome to join and be a part of the “team”.  Here they will find others who seek connection, a safe place to “try on” different characters, and learn a little something about theater.  The club will meet 52 weeks per year, a consistent connection for youth who need it, want it, and enjoy it. Gigi has distinguished herself.  She discovered what makes her thrive and what challenges she faces when that “something” is not present.  Then, she thought of others who may have the same need and she hatched a solution.  The distinguishing part: she is a youth!  Youth know youth best.  When adults take time and make the energy to listen, and listen carefully, adults quickly learn that youth are the experts for youth.  They have the power and drive to carve their own paths to success.  Gigi is not alone; so many more solutions are out there for young people who struggle. If we think about it, the “curtain falls” on lots of things that youth do. The track season ends, the Debate Club is off for a month, Karate classes take a break. Where are our other Gigis?  Where are youth who want to make a difference for youth?  PROMISE: Mountain Youth is here to support you and your solution.  Give us a chance to help you help each other. Valley’s Voice is the structure that can support you the same way it is supporting Gigi’s solution. If you have a passion and are willing to share that passion with others so they feel better about life, Valley’s Voice will help you learn to lead a project that meets a community need. Learn more at valleysvoice.org or contact Cam Dole (cdole@mountainyouth.org). By Sandy Schroeder Sandy is the Director of Community Engagement at Mountain Youth and has been involved with youth for more than 30 years. As an advocate for youth voice, she helped youth design Valley’s Voice and works with the team frequently. It is, in fact, how she met Gigi!

Written by: Tsvetelian Fuentes Diana Loera has an important message for all of us: "Advocate for yourself, for your own education and your own life." A message that she lives by. Diana arrived in the valley from Mexico 10 years ago. She was 12 years old, enrolled in EVMS, and had the hardest time. Everything was new and different, the buildings, the students, the grades, the language. During this transition, she never stopped advocating for herself - she would stay after class and always ask her teachers for help. She was at the top of her class in Mexico, and now her grades were not showing that, and she knew it was because she did not speak the language. After the struggles at school, she would go back home, where she had to help her siblings when mom and dad were working two jobs to support the family needs. They could not help her with the English assignments. She wanted to do well in school and knew she deserved a chance at an equitable education. At Eagle Valley High School, Diana learned about how significant community involvement is and participated in the Cycle Effect and the Reading Buddies program at the Public Library. Her self-advocacy led to her advocating for others. After high school, Diana got accepted at Colorado Mountain College and started her journey to obtain her teaching degree. She wanted to find a campus job because her family could not afford to help pay for her studies, so she persisted in asking her counselors for campus job opportunities. In time Diana became an ambassador and later a peer academic coach at TRIO Student Support Services. Trio helps first-generation, low-income students and students with disabilities reach their full potential and achieve academic success. For a year and a half, Diana remained dedicated to her work and classes at CMC, spending 12 hour days at the building. She decided it was time to look for a job opportunity in the community. Around that time, Bright Future Foundation posted a Youth Advisor position, and Diana was the perfect match. She was so grateful for her time at Bright Future Foundation, where many doors opened for her. She learned about all the organizations in the community and soon was promoted to Youth Violence Prevention Specialist. In August of this year, Diana started her student teaching at Edwards Elementary School, and around the same time, she accepted the role of Tu Guia Coordinator. Tu Guia is a project of Mountain Youth where High School students from our valley apply to be tutors for students in elementary and middle school who are behind in academics due to English language development or a mental health challenge. Diana feels honored to be a part of Tu Guia alongside other youth leaders - Ana Garcia, Victoria Aragon, and Britney Chavez. Diana believes interactive teaching inspires, engages, and makes a difference for students and parents alike. One of the unique characteristics of Tu Guia is that the High School tutors are close in age to their students and understand what they are going through in school. What all involved value about Tu Guia is that tutors get to participate in trainings such as "The Fundamentals Of Tutoring, "5 Ways To Incorporate Social Emotional Learning In Your Teaching," and Mandatory reporting. This way, the youth (tutors and students) are empowered with knowledge and skills and create belonging. Diana has also coordinated a matching party for tutors and students at the Ice Rink in Eagle and planned parenting classes that focus on how parents can best support their children. The parenting workshops of Tu Guia expand the impact of education to multiple generations. "There are not many authentic Spanish resources or workshops taught in a relevant way," Diana points out, and now she is an active part in coordinating those much-needed resources and classes. Her advocacy is yielding results and bringing change. Let's teach children in school to advocate for themselves. Let's broaden the mindset of parents from Hispanic heritage and have them understand how things work here, and teach parents to advocate too. Diana's advocacy is growing and becoming multi-layered, multi-generational, and multi-inspirational.

Written by: Denise Kipp Why Teaching life skills in School Is Critical Difference Makers: Samantha Bryant, Andrea Glass, Emalea Landgraf, Cat Stone, and Betsy VanBeek According to the World Health Organization, life skills are: “A group of psychosocial competencies and interpersonal skills that help people make informed decisions, solve problems, think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, build healthy relationships, empathize with others, and cope with and manage their lives in a healthy and responsible manner.” Mountain Youth began teaching comprehensive life skills to middle school students ten years ago to small groups of students. Since then, the demand for these programs has increased, as school staff realizes the importance of supporting young people’s mental health and social-emotional well-being. Mountain Youth currently implements comprehensive life skills programs for approximately 1,500 students each school year. Our dedicated, passionate, and creative educators making an impact are Samantha Bryant, Andrea Glass, Emalea Landgraf, Cat Stone, and Betsy VanBeek. While there’s no definitive list of life skills, here are some examples: Communication, Positive self-image development, Growth mindset and self-improvement, Stress management, Anger management, Decision making. All-encompassing skills like these can’t be left to learn in the home setting alone — especially since kids often spend more time in school. While no one can downplay the importance of good academics, it's just not enough without the necessary life skills. A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that teens’ average stress level was 5.8 (on a 10 point scale); much higher than the maximum healthy stress level for adults of 3.9. By learning important life skills, young people are better equipped to handle what they’re going through and recognize when they need help. The average student has an overwhelming amount of real-life responsibilities to deal with. Between juggling homework, extracurriculars, and trying to maintain a social life — it can feel like too much sometimes. Once upon a time, impossibly perfect magazine models posed the biggest triggers of low self-esteem. Until social media. Now young people are bombarded with flawless pictures usually taken out of context. Couple this with the fear of missing out, and you have yourself a recipe for mental turmoil. The internet has created a very different world for our teens to navigate with information faster, better, and easier to attain — more so every year. However, because the information is unfiltered, with extremely complex information and a wide range of stimuli it often lands young people into an emotional mess. Learning life skills helps young people understand who they are and what they want out of life. Mountain Youth’s team of educators brings awareness to modern-day issues and struggles so that teens feel more competent and prepared for the challenges that life brings. During Mountain Youth’s extraordinary ten years of delivering life skills education, they reached nearly 8,000 students in the Eagle River Valley. This team of educators is proud to support students and help them learn self-regulation and various other tools to assist in their overall wellbeing. Teachers often run into former students out in the valley and report back that their conversations are around skills, tools, and lessons on Social Emotional Learning. These exchanges reinforce the impact our team of educators have had on the youth in our community and the skills they helped them to develop that will last a lifetime. When I think of the life skills educators and the impact they have had on so many children, the Maya Angelou quote comes to mind “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. This reflects what our life skills educators provide for our community- dedication, and passion for supporting the well-being of the young people in our community. Our valley will treasure the benefits of their teachings for years to come.

By: Grace Meinberg, Manager of Safe Driving Efforts Elizabeth Sura, a junior at Battle Mountain High School, is a kind and hardworking daughter, sister, student, and Safe Driving Youth apprentice. She has lived in Eagle County her entire life and has landed an apprenticeship with Mountain Youth through CareerWise and has been in that role since June the past six months in Safe Driving and For Youth By Youth initiatives. She will continue in this role for a total of 3 years. Outside of Mountain Youth, Elizabeth participates in groups such as LINK crew at school, Upward Bound, SOS, and YouthPower365. With every decision she makes, her friends and family are forefront in her mind. Being the oldest in a family of five children, she feels responsible to keep the roads and her loved ones safe. Elizabeth wants to be a role model and a resource to her siblings and peers. She is quick with a smile and is inclusive of everyone. She knows how meaningful being included is and wants to be a light in someone's day and is interested in supporting others. She is always bringing new members to meetings and raising awareness of Mountain Youth’s initiatives by getting others involved. Cam Dole, Mountain Youth’s Youth Engagement Coordinator commented, “Elizabeth's ability to assist at events and lead by example is always helpful and encouraged. Her consistent drive to provide ideas, feedback, and create youth-centered events for the valley is a great identifier of her hard work and passion for care!”. I, Grace Meinberg, Manager of Safe Driving Efforts,am consistently impressed with Elizabeth as she rises to challenges presented to her in her personal and work life. She always shows up with a good attitude. Elizabeth stood out to me in her interview when asked what she would do in response to a peer choosing to get behind the wheel or get in the car with someone behind the wheel who may be intoxicated. Her response was very respectful and responsible. She acknowledged that she would approach the situation with kindness and educate her peers of the dangers of driving under the influence and offer resources that could provide support to those involved. As most of us know, it is not easy to stand up to peers who may be making potentially destructive decisions. “Working alongside Elizabeth has shown me how dedicated a youth can be to an issue. She is willing to learn and influence other youth with what she learns. This is not an everyday quality for other youth I have known.” Sandy, director of Community Engagement Elizabeth is always considering and planning for her future. She has unlimited potential. She is focused on school and really enjoys her science classes. Recently, Elizabeth has had her heart set on becoming a neonatal nurse working with newborn babies and their families by providing primary, acute, chronic and critical care. Not only has she helped her family in taking care of her four younger siblings, but she herself was born premature and required critical care. This strong connection adds to her determination to become a caretaker herself. In her junior year, she is already planning ahead to which paths lead her to her goals. When asked if she could meet anyone, dead or alive, she didn’t have just one person in mind. She said that she would want to meet someone who feels they are successful and happy. This is a testament to how much she looks forward to her future and finding her own success and happiness.

Michele Barber uses her platform and her heart, full of love, to advocate for kids. She is remarkably passionate about advocating for youth because of her own experience growing up, not having a trusted adult to go to or someone to listen to her when she was struggling. No one was in her corner, and she knew that she wanted to be that person for others from a young age. People are drawn to Michele because she unconditionally cares for everyone. They seek refuge in her kindness, compassion, words of wisdom, as well as the safe environment she provides. Michele is always willing to support anyone who needs help. It has been easy for her to genuinely listen to others and authentically care about what they were saying. Not to give answers, but to be someone who cared. She knew her passion was working with kids and supporting them through their needs. Michele wasn't always sure how she wanted to serve kids. As she gained experience - first in the juvenile justice system, then at an alternative school - she grew more specific and knew she wanted to work in education. Michele decided to get her Master's degree in school counseling. She worked in middle and high schools in St. Louis and Fort Collins until her family moved to Eagle County - where she currently is a guidance counselor at Homestake Peak School. Michele has impacted thousands of lives throughout the many years she has served youth. She prioritizes genuinely listening, always follows through on her word, and will never stop being an advocate. Like many of our previous difference-makers, Michele is humble and finds it hard to recognize the impact she makes in others' lives. Luckily some students will not let her work go unrecognized. Previous students email to let her know how much of a difference she made in their lives, how some of the words she told them they never forgot, they made essential life decisions from her advice, and how they will never forget how Michele made them feel. These kind words of acknowledgment make Michele feel like she is in the right place. Even with praise directed towards Michele, she still boasts about her teammates and how vital the team approach is. Michele says, "Every single person has a role - the teachers, the parent, the counselor, the Hope Center therapist, the coaches; everybody has a piece in order to help kids." She says, "I am in awe and blessed to have phenomenal leadership, an inspiring group of teachers to work with, and a strong counseling department to work side by side with." Michele gives so much recognition and thanks to her teammates who make her step up her work. Not only are we grateful for Michele, but also for those who inspire her.