Amelia wants youth in the community to know that sustainability is in every corner of their life and that small actions can add up and make a greater change. Amelia Kovacs is a fun-loving, enthusiastic, and caring difference maker in Eagle County. With a degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology, as well as a minor in Sustainability and a certificate in Sustainable Food Systems from Arizona State University (ASU), Amelia knew she wanted to positively impact the world through sustainability moving forward. Amelia had worked in the fast food industry in her youth and recognized the inefficiencies and lack of waste diversion as an issue. That was when she decided that she wanted to positively impact our planet by getting into work that focused on sustainability. In college, Amelia worked diligently to create the first residential compost program in her dorm and at the university, drafted a climate action plan alongside a city councilwoman, and represented ASU at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain. After graduating, Amelia joined Walking Mountains in Avon, CO in the summer of 2021 as a Sustainability Intern. Following her internship, Amelia landed a full-time position as the Sustainability Programs Coordinator, where she focuses on waste diversion. She currently leads the Materials Management Task Force at Walking Mountains, managing the county’s diversion report, supervising the Sustainability Internship program, and overseeing 115+ days of zero waste events per year. In 2022, Amelia and the collective zero waste team helped divert 51,540 pounds from the landfill through recycling and composting with an average diversion rate of 81%. You have probably impacted this diversion rate when you have attended local events all across the Valley that have the green pop-up Walking Mountains tents and staff helping direct you on which bin your trash should go in. Thank you for your efforts! Amelia is passionate about making sustainability fun and accessible to all. She believes in meeting people where they are and introducing sustainable changes in a way that is engaging and enjoyable. This approach also applies to Amelia’s work with youth, which she loves. She facilitates recycling tours for 2nd graders through high schoolers, leads in-school assemblies across the district to talk about recycling, and coordinates Zero Waste programs where many of the staff that work events are youth and young adults. Amelia also leads the Sustainability Internship in summers where most interns are young adults in or right out of college and this program helps them get their foot in the door in sustainability. Amelia wants youth in the community to know that sustainability is in every corner of their life and that small actions can add up and make a greater change. She believes in asking questions and using one’s voice to bring sustainability to the spotlight to make a bigger difference. Amelia says, “We’re listening.” In addition to her work with Walking Mountains, Amelia became involved with Mountain Youth this year, by helping coordinate the new Green Yeti program. This program was requested by John A. Dobson Ice Arena who wanted to be part of the zero-waste initiative. This new program provides youth, mostly our local high schoolers, with the opportunity to learn and grow and use their knowledge of sustainability to help divert waste made by our very own Vail Yeti hockey spectators. Amelia spoke to Valley’s Voice members to address how to obtain more youth involvement and trained members who were interested in joining the program. While sustainability is always on her mind, Amelia has other areas in her life that she likes to put time and focus into. She volunteers twice a month with a local organization, SOS Outreach, and provides outdoor activity learning and quality time with youth as a mentor figure on the mountain. In addition to her skiing and mentorship, you can find her playing soccer in the local recreation team, dabbling in photography and videography, or continuing her journey in cooking. Amelia’s passion for sustainability, combined with her dedication to youth outreach, makes her a true difference maker in Eagle County. She is committed to making sustainability fun, accessible, and engaging for all, and her impact is sure to be felt for years to come. If you have questions for Amelia, desire to learn more about sustainability in our Valley, or want to join the Zero Waste team, you can reach Amelia at ameliak@walkingmountains.org. You can also visit the Walking Mountains webpage at www.walkingmountains.org for more information regarding their initiatives and programs. If you have questions about recycling, compost, and/or waste diversion in Eagle County, you can access any of the following resources: Download the Waste Wizard App: Click here for directions Vail Honeywagon: https://www.vailhoneywagon.com Written by Grace Meinberg, Mountain Youth Manager of Safe Driving, info@mountainyouth.org

Be the Best You: A Christopher Marsh Perspective Mountain Youth staff get the great privilege of interviewing inspiring young people in the community each month and Christopher Marsh, a 9th grader at Eagle Valley High School, is no exception. He has such an incredible outlook on life and has found strategies that keep him healthy, calm, connected, and balanced. In our time together, he shared about his love of the outdoors and how nature is a source of rejuvenation and calm for him. Christopher is a passionate young person focused on making healthy decisions and encouraging others to be the best version of themselves; himself included. When asked what words of wisdom he would share with his peers, he stated: “Find something like a quote, or someone that you look up to, stick with it, hold it close to you, work towards being like that, and try to be your best self.” The quote he sticks with and tries to live by comes from Mohammad Ali: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” Christopher has served on Valley’s Voice for the past three years and recently joined the Youth Executive Board. He was introduced to the program by a friend and finds enjoyment by serving. His favorite part is being heard and having a voice in conversations about what the group chooses to do. Christopher and his fellow Valley’s Voice members plan youth-led activities and events for other youth so that they are fun activities to participate in. He feels that when adults plan things, they’re too formal, which doesn’t encourage youth to attend. His favorite activity this year has been the ski day scavenger hunt. Being on the Youth Executive Board, Christopher has been able to focus on different types of project and activities. He is a part of the Fentanyl Awareness and Substance Prevention Passion Project, helping to increase knowledge about the dangers of drugs and how to not overdose. An accomplishment of the project is spreading awareness about Narcan and making sure people know what to do and how to use it, if someone overdoses. Through the project team’s efforts and community efforts, many more people now carry Narcan as well as many law enforcement officers. Christopher is also on the planning committee for the annual Youthapalooza event, held each summer. It is an event that brings youth and programs together for a fun-filled evening. This year’s event will be held on August 4th and all are invited to attend. Christopher shares that through his participation on the committee he is learning a lot about money management and how to set up budgets. He appreciates that the youth involved in planning the event are given responsibility to decide how the money is spent. Through this process, he’s also learned how to manage his own money better. In his free time, Christopher is motivated to be outside and to be active, with an emphasis on getting away from electronics. He believes it’s important for your brain to have a break from the phone and other electronic devices. He enjoys biking, skiing, Nordic skiing, hiking and running. Christopher finds benefits in being outside both with others and, also, being alone. As he shares, the benefits of going out with others is having someone to talk to and share some struggles you’re having. The benefits of going by yourself is you can reflect on your choices, how you think about things and how you can improve your life. Christopher likes to learn about math and natural sciences and anything that gets him outside; he is also taking advanced classes to keep his mind active and prepare for college. He participates in the P Tech program to earn credits towards a degree in Sustainability. Christopher’s favorite part of being outside is the way that nature sounds and looks, it’s very relaxing. It helps with reducing stress and can calm him down and help get rid of his anxiety so he’s not so overwhelmed at times. For Christopher, he sees his peers struggling with stress, getting away from electronics, and other addictions. One thing Christopher believes will help his peers is hanging out with friends and putting the phone away for two hours or more, so they are not exposed to all the false information that gets circulated through social media outlets. He offers, “Connect with the outdoors and with others that you can talk with and who can support you through the things you’re dealing with.” Christopher finds connection with his sister on car rides to and from school, checking in on the day, and supporting each other through challenges. He also connects with, and finds inspiration through, his dad and Mr. Kottenstette. These adults inspire him to be the person who stands up to help people when they’re in need, be the best version of himself, and work towards goals the best he can. Some important habits Christopher has adopted are: To be his best self- including not raising his voice in conversation and not continuing to argue with someone; practicing ways to calm himself down to not escalate situations; and meditating which helps to make him happy and calm. Christopher is very wise, well-grounded, respectful and passionate. His outlook and calm presence are inspiring and contagious to all who meet him. It was an honor to be able to spotlight him this month and share his words of wisdom and encouragement. Written by Mikayla Curtis, Mountain Youth Director of Strategic Impact, mcurtis@mountainyouth.org

Cam encourages all people to “Go outside! This valley does have a lot of opportunities, take advantage of them! Get pitted.” Have you seen a tall, red-haired, enthusiastic and energetic man with a genuine grin from ear to ear? That’s the infamous “stoked at all times” Cam Dole, Mountain Youth's Youth Engagement Manager. After graduating college from Linfield College in 2020 and living in Fort Collins, he stumbled upon the opportunity to work with the young people of Eagle County at Mountain Youth. After an interview with fifteen students and two adults, he realized that this was his calling. Cam is most happy spending his energy on a human powered activity. The western slope of the Vail Valley would be the perfect place to build himself professionally and passionately, deep rooted in serving youth and the outdoors. Cam grew up in Helena, Montana and has always embraced his love of the small-town atmosphere. His parents, Jim and Judith and younger sister Emma, are the most important people in his life and are very encouraging of all of his endeavors. After graduating high school in Helena Montana, he studied Exercise Science at the University of Jamestown in North Dakota for three years. Always passionate about youth, Cam was an assistant coach for the local high school and club swimming teams while there. Yearning for the mountains and having a desire to return to competitive swimming, Cam transferred to Linsfield College and changed his major to Environmental Policy. He quotes, “Graduating on my parents’ couch during COVID in the spring of 2020, I was still able to appreciate a great two years holding leadership roles with the college activities team, climbing club, orientation and welcome crew, and more.” Following graduation, he headed to Colorado with its big mountains! While working at Costco in Fort Collins, he quickly found that he was craving more mountain time and more impactful work challenges. Working with youth has always been a part of Cam’s life. “During the summers of college, I was lucky enough to be a camp counselor in Northwest Montana on Flathead Lake near Glacier National Park. I was a raft, hiking, and backpacking guide with the camp and worked with kids ages ten through eighteen, building their confidence, outdoor knowledge, and connection with peers. I’ve always been involved and motivated by the cool older kids and I think this has played a part in my stoke for youth engagement.” Being a good person has always been such a high priority for Cam, whether in the backcountry, at game night, or in a meeting. Constantly learning how to be a better person and radiating that energy to young people has become Cam’s favorite motivator and drives his work. Cam expressed that, “Our youth are so important, and it has been amazing to let them create more exciting experiences for themselves and their peers. Communication is such an important skill that we can learn and grow in. Communicating with youth is a whole heck of a lot different than communicating with adults, and through this position, I not only facilitate youth conversation with adults, but also through pro social activities.” Local youth face different needs in our rural community. Cam sees that youth needs become adult needs and that our valley is constantly striving to become more equitable. He voiced, “Whether that’s access to transportation, food, local resources, or technology, there is a healthy solution and option that is essential for growth in relationships and life. Taking healthy risks is natural and part of life; how can we best support the youth of our community as they explore and push the boundaries of ‘healthy’ risks?” Cam supports the youth in our community by leading by example through his energy and enthusiasm. “Be the person you wish there was more of, and lead by example! If you don’t show up with energy to accomplish whatever your goal is, you’re not truly showing up. Youth can understand when there is a lack of energy and initiative, so don’t give them the opportunity to see through you! Be enthusiastic! Life is exciting and such a gift to bask in and explore all the opportunities,” The advice Cam would offer the youth is, “Be yourself, be happy, live life like it's yours to live! There are so many opportunities in this valley and beyond for youth to get involved and make an impact with your passions. Growth isn’t linear and you won’t always feel successful but there’s no highs without the lows.” Cam feels like each individual person has a place where they should feel welcomed and know that they belong. Valley’s Voice works to create these spaces and opportunities. Additionally, Cam feels that trusted adult mentors should be accessible and available as we improve opportunities for young people in our valley. Growing up, Cam realized the importance of peers and how older youth influences and interactions affect younger youth. “Just like we think adults are important to youth growth, youth are equally (if not MORE) important to adult growth! Being able to be a role model, motivator, teacher, etc. for youth has been a huge motivator to continue developing myself.” Growing up, Cam realized the importance of peers and how older youth influences and interactions affect younger youth. “Just like we think adults are important to youth growth, youth are equally (if not MORE) important to adult growth! Being able to be a role model, motivator, teacher, etc. for youth has been a huge motivator to continue developing myself.” Written by Cat Stone, Mountain Youth Life Skills Educator, cstone@mountainyouth.org

After reading about what drives Alyah, you will want to attend the Eagle County Fair this July and maybe you will see her in action! Alyah is a perpetual go-getter with a passion for many things! She enjoys playing the piano, going 4-wheeling and mudding, hanging out with her friends, and fishing or hunting. She is truly an outdoor girl! Alyah’s Involvement with the local 4-H Club is her top passion. Her main focus is on all aspects of raising and showing Livestock. Alyah grew up watching her two of her aunts being actively involved with 4-H and she knew she wanted to follow in their footsteps. Alyah and her family participate within the livestock community, with attention to showing animals. Alyah acquired her first steer and also showed two pigs at the age of 8 years old! Now Alyah is in her sixth year of participation in 4-H. As part of her 4-H responsibilities, Alyah is required to complete community service projects such as providing and serving meals through her church and helping families in need. Alyah expressed, “4-H has made a big impact in her life. I have learned a lot of things and met a lot of different people due to my involvement in 4-H.” Who are the people who inspire Alyah? Alyah says it is her teachers, her parents, and just most adults who inspire Alyah to do her best and to be a better person. Alyah advises young people, “Just don’t give up, hard work pays off, and do the things you enjoy!” A quote that has stuck with Alyah is “dreams don’t work unless you do”. Written by Samantha Bryant, Mountain Youth Life Skills Educator, sbryant@mountainyouth.org

Enriching youth lives through sharing events, supporting ideas, and saying "let's figure it out!" Do you remember your favorite teacher from Middle or High school, and how that person made an on your impact life? Dr. Amanda Bolla is an individual in our community I'm sure many students claim as their "favorite teacher" because of the way she touched their lives during their time at school. Providing enrichment to our youth through attending events, supporting their ideas, and having a "let's figure it out" attitude describes Dr. Bolla. She has connected so many youth in our valley with support and encouragement to continue their interests and develop their passions. Dr. Bolla’s leadership with the Gypsum Creek Middle School Hope Squad last year led to the blossoming of that same mental health focused, youth-led group at Eagle Valley High School. Her collaborative efforts tied Eagle Valley High School Green Team with mentor opportunities at Gypsum Creek Middle School. It also opened up fundraising and advertising opportunities; as well as helping individual youth grow in their interests and project field. Sitting down with Amanda opened my eyes to her time living in Hong Kong. Interacting with so many people and being able to form those relationships over a diversity of interactions. Four years ago, she decided it was time to head to the Eagle Valley. Moving here with her 2 teens, Amanda found herself a job within the school district. Making connections with Eagle County Schools friends allowed her the time to share her achievements and interests in gifted and talented program growth. Providing gifted and talented programs, not just for special youth, but for all youth who have a passion and drive to grow. After working with all 4 high schools, she decided to take a more focused role. Eventually, Amanda made it to her current role as a trusted adult, leading professional, and collaborative teacher at Gypsum Creek Middle School and Eagle Valley High School. Figuring out how to encourage youth to think in ways of "get to" rather than "have to" has been a fun part of Amanda's work. A recent success has been facilitating Eagle Valley High School Hope Squad meetings and helping them choose, design, and order bracelets advertising the new National Suicide Hotline (988). The team also enjoys baking and have identified cheerful pick-me-ups to be successful during stressful times. How can we use youth strengths to reach and impact other youth in a positive way? Cookie-grams encouraged friends to send kind words to each other with a sweet delivery. Why not make the message be delivered in a cool way? You have to do just that when trying to get that message to youth, and that's the type of content Amanda gets to facilitate, encourage, and take part in with Middle and High School youth. Dr. Bolla's vision is to gather and unite youth, spread ideas to gain traction and participation, change policy to better serve youth needs, and find niches to empower youth. Thanks for your hard work for our community Ds. Bolla! Written by Cam Dole, Youth Engagement Manager at Mountain Youth, cdole@mountainyouth.org

A local youth who loves to give back and make people smile! William Richardson is an 8th grade student at Berry Creek Middle School and a member of Valley’s Voice (VV). William has loved being a participant and team member of many Valley’s Voice programs over the past two years. He is a new member of the Youth Executive Board, was a participant at the Sustainable Splash, and was a spokesperson for Youthapalooza. As the spokesperson of this large, annual event in which youth can interact with over 50 local resources and agencies, William did an interview with TV8. He was extremely proud of himself for stepping out of his comfort zone. He thought he might crack under pressure, but ended up finding it so exhilarating. William was grateful for the opportunity to be on live TV. William feels his greatest accomplishment so far with VV was developing and implementing his idea to have a Dungeons and Dragons night with the support of Cameron Dole, Youth Engagement Manager. William witnessed first-hand all that went into taking an idea and putting it into action. He was pleasantly surprised with the number of attendees, which was over 25 youth, who shared the same love of Dungeons and Dragons as he. This event was so much fun and he loved engaging in the community and connecting with his peers. William credits his mentors, Ms. Johnson, his art teacher and Ms. Peto, his music teacher for helping him develop the courage to be a part of these events. He enjoys composing music with the “Young Composers." He credits his dad for his love of the outdoors including dirt biking, kayaking, rock climbing, and skiing, He also thanks his mom who helped encourage his entrepreneurship in having a stand selling Samosas at the local Community Market. William loves being a part of all of these activities in the community because he loves to give back and make people smile. William continues to expand his knowledge and explorations. He is currently in South Africa, where he holds dual citizenship, and loves to spend time with family and be in the beautiful environment. William looks forward to continuing his time with Valley’s Voice and hopes to be a spokesperson for this great organization, and provide more opportunities for youth to get involved in our community. Written by Michele Zoller, Mountain Youth Operations Manager, Mzoller@mountainyouth.org

Kateleen Harman is a dynamic, resilient, and dedicated professional working towards social and racial justice in her personal and professional life. She speaks with an open heart and a brilliant mind and if someone were to write a book of quotes, they could come directly from Kate, as her honesty, empathy, wit and intelligence comes through in every word she says. Kate is currently the Family and Community Engagement Manager for My Future Pathways (MFP), working with young Hispanic adults and parents to strengthen community connection and build resiliency. She wanted a career with purpose that does something positive for others and she has found just that in her work with MFP. Kate is the youngest of four, born and raised in Lima, Peru where she attended a private Catholic School, experiences that have shaped her life perspective. Kate started working in the Vail Valley 9 years ago, to pursue the “American Dream” where she fell in love with the valley and her future husband, Nic. With a degree in Communication and Development, Kate has used her education to become a manager in the service and administration industry and to create positive change within our community. Kate worked in the service industry for many years where she faced racism, sexism and discrimination due to being an immigrant, native Spanish speaker and a woman. She has turned these experiences into action and purpose, finding a job where she can pursue her passion to support women and youth’s rights through education, advocacy, and teaching life skills. Through the difficulties and hardships Kate has faced, she continues to create a supportive community here with her husband, friends, and coworkers while enjoying the beauty that the valley has to offer. She has built a space for parents and young adults to feel proud of their background, to pursue the life they deserve, and to, “Let go of the idea that we are here to survive; we are here to thrive.” In her own words, Kate wants to, “Be able to take my own experience and what I’ve learned and give it to someone else to make a difference in their life; I think that is amazing. Especially when it comes to women’s health.” Kate understands that education is the “great equalizer” and wants to use her work at My Future Pathways to empower kids and adults to not feel limited and encourage the next generation to advocate for their mental health and change the way they view success in our society. “We feel like we are here on borrowed time and borrowed space as immigrants. We are just supposed to work really hard, keep our head down and just be grateful that we get the chance to be here. At the same time, I pay taxes, I’m a citizen now, I’m multicultural and bilingual and that should have a value.” “We need to start making space for ourselves, learn how to use our voice, advocate for our rights, and empower kids by saying, if you want to be mayor of Vail, you can. How do you get there and how can we help you get there?” Kate is doing just that. She is creating a space for all youth to feel welcomed, valued, and to look to the future with hope. She is creating social change in a place that may look perfect on the outside, until you see the cracks of social injustice. She is showing youth and parents how to make space for themselves, to use their voice, and to access all the resources this valley has to offer, which are also here for them. It is a pleasure learning from you, Kate, and the future is brighter with the work you are doing, the space you are creating, and the richness you are bringing to the lives of those you work and play with. To learn more about Kate and My Future Pathways, visit https://myfuturepathways.org/ Written by Stevi Bratschie, Community Education Manager at Mountain Youth, sbratschie@mountainyouth.org

Discover Your FLOW! Sitting across the room from Bennett at a recent Valley’s Voice event, I was struck by his ability to show himself, his enthusiasm, and his soul as he listened to the band Trees Don’t Move. His presence was magnetic. Every individual, youth and adult alike, needs to feel how Bennett felt that night. Free, confident, humble, and happy. I saw his FLOW; let’s all find ours, too. F= Find “A place where it is hard to NOT be happy.” Sounds doable, right? For Bennett, this means exploring passion, creating identity not by working hard to make others happy, but by making yourself happy. Sometimes people develop their identities based on what others think and they are not happy. Investing in personal development yields a better return on investment. L= Lyrics, poetry, and song catalyze Bennett’s FLOW. It is the way he can “Convey feelings through song”. While he loves all types of music, we might have our own preferences. Bennett reads and writes a ton! Then, his head connects to his heart. Why not attempt to share our feelings through writing? Bennett will challenge you the same way he did me. O= “Out of the Woods” is Bennett’s own, favorite poem/song that he has written. He shares his values through his lyrics. Protecting an image is not nearly as valuable as knowing yourself. There is strength to be found through the slow process of learning where to fit in, experiencing new things, and being vulnerable. What key message will your masterpiece convey? W= Working. "Working with someone is better than being taught by someone.” Bennett has worked with so many different people. His teachers at The Zealous School are coaches as they work alongside their protoges. His parents coach professionals in leadership and business development, and they have coached Bennett, too. Last summer, when he discovered musical theater, he worked with his parents and friends to hone his singing and acting skills. Who is your coach? Need one? Find one. Bennett Maloley taught me something. When people find their FLOW, they are happy. Bennett is. His radiant smile, extraordinary presence, and independent thinking at the age of 12 shows me FLOW can be developed at any age, any time, and with or without help. It’s all up to us. Let’s learn from Bennett. Written by Sandy Schroeder, Mountain Youth Director of Community Engagement, Sschroeder@mountainyouth.org

If you are new to the valley and are needing a friendly face to connect with, you can find this caring and compassionate heart in Whitney Young. That is exactly how I met her, and I am grateful that I found myself in the same community meeting as Whitney one day shortly after moving to Eagle County. I have since learned that Whitney does not know a stranger, because she has an inherent and natural way of making everyone she meets instantly feel like a friend. Ironically, this is the same character trait that Whitney experienced in many other Eagle County residents that convinced her that this was where she was meant to put down roots and build a life after moving here from Maryland over a decade ago. She describes the friends and community that she was met with early on as a sort of family away from home and Whitney would eventually meet her love Karrisa, now her wife, which made her fall in love with Eagle County even more. Whitney’s amazing personality is not only what helps her to create lasting friendships, but also what makes her perfect for the many roles that she plays in Eagle County. After stepping in as merely an interim Executive Director at the Family Learning Center of Edwards, FLC, in November of 2019, Whitney found herself the leader of a facility that, like many others, was facing the chaos and uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic. Whitney tackled the challenges and unknowns seamlessly, and it was clear that she was meant to be more than just an interim employee. Whitney has been the official Executive Director at FLC ever since, and the center is thriving. She credits her amazing team of teachers and staff for this success as well, and states that she couldn’t do the work without each and every one of them. FLC is an early learning center for children ages 8 weeks to 6 years old. All children are welcome, and the center consists of children from all income levels. FLC is a bi-lingual school which boasts a bi-lingual staff and classroom environment. There is a focus on explorations of music and traditions to cultivate awareness of cultural diversity. The Family Learning Center incorporates the 7 key values of respect, compassion, honesty, independence, celebrations of diversity, joy of learning, and appreciation of nature into the curriculum and all lesson plans support the inclusion of the key values in the vocabulary of both children and staff. Many of the teachers are primarily Spanish speaking and actively learning English, so the environment at FLC is beneficial for both students and staff alike! Whitney wants to instill that at FLC, they are a melting pot of all different socioeconomic statuses and backgrounds and she strives to make the environment as equitable as possible for all. Whitney believes that “It’s never too early to have kids learning and growing together.” She aims to meet each child where they are at, and her goal is to make every child feel loved and accepted, regardless of what they are able to bring to the table. Whitney’s role as Executive Director is to not only run the center, but also to secure grants, support the teachers, find resources for families, and refer students for additional services when needed. She also makes arrangements to bring important services directly to the center, such as the Mira bus, to provide vaccines for children and families who may have difficulty getting to healthcare providers. Whitney expresses that she has an extremely supportive team of staff members and is amazed by the creative ways that the teachers at FLC come up with to reach their students and help them succeed. Whitney is a lifelong learner and strives to continuously grow and learn. She takes courses and does her research to gain a better understanding of the work that the classroom educators at FLC do, and to find new ways to be able to support her teachers. Before finding herself at FLC, Whitney had a positive impact on the lives of others in several different ways. After graduating with her Masters of Social Work from University of Denver, Whitney worked with youth and families at Anshutz Medical Campus, Mountain Family Health Center, and was contracted through many other organizations in social work and behavioral health therapy roles. She has also worked in animal assisted social work, virtual therapy, and has taken part in working with community organizations such as Swift Eagle Charitable Foundation, Vail Valley Charitable Fund, The Community Market, SpeakUp ReachOut, and more! She is encouraged by the sense of community that is created by all of these organizations working together for the greater good, and feels grateful that these organizations are addressing mental health and making services more accessible. Whitney has always wanted to work in a person-centered capacity, and her love for people of all ages lends itself perfectly to the many roles she has filled over the years. She expresses that she feels fortunate to have been witness to the substantial increase in mental health services in Eagle County over the last decade, and is hopeful that we will continue to see a growing network of support for mental health services in our county. When she worked for Mountain Family Health Center about a decade ago, she was the first and only behavioral health therapist in the area. “Seeing the increase in mental health services has been amazing!” Whitney proclaims. Whitney definitely stays busy with her work in the community, but when she finds herself with some down time, she is like most Coloradans and tries to get outdoors! She loves the water and the mountains, and even worked for a summer at Timberline Tours when she was new to the Valley. She is also a very active member of the yoga community and is a proponent of participating in yoga for both physical and mental health benefits. She teaches yoga classes at Revolution Power Yoga and invites everyone of all skill levels to come out for a class! Whitney also enjoys spending time with her wife Karrisa and their fur baby Ruby in Red Cliff, where they recently moved. They have loved settling into their new home and making it their own out in the beautiful scenic mountain town. To know Whitney Young is a true blessing, and I hope that if you have not had the pleasure of meeting her yet, you get to soon! She is an active member of our community and Eagle County is lucky to have someone like her putting in the work to support its community members. She is the epitome of a true Difference Maker, and it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to honor her. Make sure to check out Family Learning Center at https://www.flcedwards.org/ to learn how you can support children and families in Eagle County. Written by Krystle James, Marketing and Events Manager with Mountain Youth, kjames@mountainyouth.org

“Have empathy for others, as you do not know what they have gone through.” -Ian Bibler This month's Youth Spotlight is Ian Bibler. He would like to share his story because he believes it will raise awareness about the fact that being seen reduces isolation and builds community. His story might help others heal and find solutions! He’s been speaking to fourth and fifth graders across the country when they finish reading the book 'Wonder' as part of the Be Kind campaign and curriculum attached to 'Wonder.' Read more about Ian in his own words... "Hi Everyone! My name is Ian Bibler. I was born with Treacher-Collins Syndrome, or TCS. Treacher-Collins Syndrome is a rare facial birth defect. It only affects one in 60,000 babies born. You can look at me and see that I look different, especially around my eyes. Everyone looks different, of course, but what is not as obvious, is what you don’t see. I don’t let people see my deformed ears. Yes, my hair is FIRE, but I’m afraid to let my peers see my tiny, closed ears, or that because of their malformation, I have two implanted rods to connect my hearing devices. My hearing devices are amazing, but without them I am profoundly hearing impaired. I also don’t like to do things when I can’t wear them, which includes any water activities with friends. What you also can’t see, is that my condition includes an airway issue. I currently burn all of my calories to breathe, and I stop breathing multiple times in my sleep. The result of this is the need to have a very serious surgery every few years to grow the bone and expand my jaw. I have traveled to Ohio throughout my whole life to be seen by my craniofacial surgeon. The differences that you see are not just aesthetics, appearance, or looks. This means that there is depth and layers of TCS. This requires others to have empathy, to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, to try to understand that a person can go through much more than what we are able to see at a glance. I’ve had 27 surgeries in 16 years. Other kids living with TCS, who are born with more severe presentation, may have gone through 50 or more surgeries by now. I have learned that there is always someone who has a harder struggle. So even I need to have empathy towards others. Empathy is the avenger to selfishness. As teenagers, we are commonly selfish. But that doesn’t have to be the “normal.” Empathy spreads love, kindness, and confidence. By receiving empathy in each town that I have lived, I have received all of these gifts. Receiving empathy has given me the courage to share my story today. I challenge everyone who is listening to live with an empathic heart and mind towards others, whether they look different or sound different. If you do this, you will be a difference-maker one person at a time. I have more major surgeries to go. I also have more confidence to gain, but I am not anxious about my future. I am able to ignore the many stares when I go to new places because I have been filled with empathy and acceptance by others. I am Ian and this is my story!"

It is incredibly unique and impactful to serve in a community where so many organizations come together to assess and address the most critical needs facing local youth. Your Hope Center has humbly and vigorously crept from one school-based clinician in late 2018 to sixteen clinicians supporting every public school in the Eagle River Valley. Hannah Ross stepped up as the first school-based clinician in 2018, based out of Homestake Peak School. With a background in social work that stemmed from a Dual Enrollment opportunity in high school, Hannah adores advocating for families and embraces opportunities to change systems to support healthy environments and therefore positive behaviors. In her previous work as an Eagle County School District Prevention Coordinator, Hannah recognized the needs facing many local students. She focused on school and district strategies, as well as student referrals to therapy, yet there were frankly very few therapists available to refer to. Hannah was eager to join Your Hope Center when they opened their doors in our community and has grown into a supervisor role, supporting ten school-based clinicians. “I am most proud of our clinicians, pivoting to meet the needs of students, such as expanding into all elementary schools. We have also been enthusiastic about growing our intern program,” Hannah shares. As in many fields, our community does not have as many licensed clinicians as we need to meet the demands of the community, so Your Hope Center dove into a “grow your own”- type model. All Your Hope Center licensed clinicians have, at minimum, a masters in the field. In order to attract and retain quality therapists, they are able to hire and supervise masters and doctoral-level candidates as interns and enable them to gain their required hours and real-life experience by serving in schools with close support from veteran colleagues. Your Hope Center school-based clinicians may provide individual, group, and family supports all within the school building for students and families, typically on a weekly basis. Common presenting concerns include trauma, domestic violence, depression, anxiety, grief, difficult peer relationships, family divorce, moving- any significant life or behavioral change that may have a long-term impact on the student. This enables school counselors to stay focused on addressing short-term needs, academic resources, and broad universal prevention supports for all students. Your Hope Center referrals often derive from a school counselor or parent, and this resource is free of barriers like cost and transportation. Hannah describes her work as, “Incredibly rewarding, different almost every day, definitely NOT monotonous.” Hannah explains, “It is so fun to work with students and see their growth. We get to be there for them at some of their darkest moments and at some of their highest highs.” Jordan Shomaker is a school-based therapist who recently joined the Your Hope Center team. Jordan enjoys the culture and comradery among the team, and is able to find support and guidance in a field that can often feel intimidating and isolating. “I know I can call on Hannah as my supervisor or the school-based team to feel empowered and confident as I find my voice as a therapist. The chance to work for an organization so committed to making a difference in the community feels like a huge blessing,” Jordan reflects. By the numbers, Your Hope Center served 803 students in the 2021-2022 school year and has already served nearly 600 students in the 2022-2023 school year. In addition to school-based therapy, Your Hope Center offers a crisis response and community stabilization programs. Crisis Response includes a helpline staffed 24/7. Anyone can call and a clinician will answer. They are able to come on-site, offer a safety assessment and co-respond with law enforcement and paramedics. Community Stabilization is an intense program for individuals experiencing extreme suicide ideation, often coming out of hospitalization. This can look like multiple therapy sessions per week plus case management, with piling on other supports that can boost health factors. All programs are voluntary. There is never a fee for any Your Hope Center programs, striving for barrier-fee care. How do they do it? Gracious support has come in through Eagle County Public Health, Eagle County School District, Eagle Valley Behavioral Health and other donors. Your Hope Center is always grateful for contributions, and the upcoming Colorado Gives Day on December 6th is a great day to give to Your Hope Center, Mountain Youth and dozens of other local agencies as all donations are boosted. Additional support will keep Your Hope Center services barrier-free, enable expansion particularly at the high school level, maintain caseloads of no more than 20-30 clients, and maybe even support a dream of floating clinicians to best support local students in need. As Jordan describes, “The kids I get to work with have endured a lot in their lives and they deserve support, health, and happiness.” Let’s help ensure Hannah, Jordan and Your Hope Center can continue building resilience in their students and families. Written by Michelle Stecher, Executive Director of Mountain Youth, mstecher@mountainyouth.org

One of the great joys about living in this community is seeing the amazing opportunities youth have access to, as well as the ambition youth have to seek opportunities out for themselves. When first meeting Franco Rodriguez, a Junior at Eagle Valley High School, he comes across as quiet and unassuming. However, as soon as he starts talking, one learns he has a resume that rivals anyone 10 or 20 years older than him. What’s even more inspiring is his humility as he discusses his activities, awards, and future goals. Franco may be the first young person I’ve met that knows when he wants to retire and has a plan to get there (at age 55 by the way), and this won’t just be a retirement but a chance to earn his PhD and go on to be a professor of film making in his later years. At an early age of 6, Franco was introduced to photography and film-making that has led him on a creative and fulfilling path. In his free time, he is taking classes and workshops through colleges. As a part of school, he serves in the role of executive producer of media stuff for the EVTV (Eagle Valley TV) journalism class. EVTV was asked to create a story for Rocky Mountain PBS about the effects of the pandemic on schools. The story was such a success they put it on the national PBS news hour! Franco has entered many video competitions and found tremendous success. He won the national energy foundation competition, out of 145 contestants in 9 states, on a piece about global warming and the benefit of buying electric vehicles. He also won best cinematography, best lighting, best sound design, and best computer effects in the 2022 Dare Devil Film Fest. His work with EVTV also achieved 3 Best of Colorado awards. His amazing portfolio can be viewed here. Photography and film-making has led to his own company, Digital Realities, since 2021, but these are not his only passions. He greatly enjoys bowling, plays on a league and works at the bowling alley. He also builds his own computers from scratch so that they are faster, less expensive, and can handle the editing he needs to do. He is really into cars, new and old, and excited to be driving a BMW. If he doesn’t go to the New York Film Academy in LA, as is his current plan, Franco also has an interest in mechanical and automotive technologies, or space and chemistry. He and his mom participate in Walking Mountains and Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement events. He has a close relationship with his older brother and enjoys celebrating milestones together. When not seen pursuing one of these interests, Franco appreciates skiing and being on the mountain. For the past 10 years, Franco has participated in SOS Outreach. He’s gone through the entire program and now serves as a Jr. Mentor to local youth. He enjoys the feeling of having a responsibility to look forward to and hopes that through his mentorship, other youth won’t have to go through the adverse childhood experiences that he faced. Franco expresses concern for his current peers and the choices they are making. His hope is that they can be taught how to be safer if they’re going to choose high risk behaviors, like substance use, and feels Narcan should be everywhere- as accessible as fire extinguishers. When asked what wisdom he would like to impart on his peers, Franco shares, “Be careful – go for everything you say and do – and ask for help when you need it.” His teacher, Drake Brown, shares: Franco is one of those kids that uses his imagination to think critically through tough situations. I appreciate his honest dialogue when it comes to talking about issues today's youth face. He doesn't sugarcoat the fact that there are a lot of kids struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues, and he uses himself as an example to illustrate that you can create positive change within yourself to lead your best possible life. Franco's influence through his journalism and photography will, in my opinion, inspire thousands of people. It's been amazing for me to get to know him better over the last three years and I am really proud of where he's at today. I would echo these words and share that it is inspiring to meet Franco and be able to write about his talents, humility, and kindness with our community. Written by Mikayla Curtis, Mountain Youth Director of Strategic Impact, mcurtis@mountainyouth.org