Fueling Her Future Written by Sandy Schroeder, Director of Community Engagement For Frances Farrell, becoming involved in her community is not so that the “box gets checked”. It’s much, much more. I met Frances at one of the planning meetings for Tu Guia and she said, “Sure, money is great. But what truly motivates me is to be contributing something to my community.” Frances has her list of activities, as is true with many highly actuated high school students. She attends Battle Mountain High School and plays lacrosse, skis on the Nordic ski team, and runs cross country. She is the head curator for the TEDxYouth@Vail event, serves on Student Council, participates in the LINK crew, and is a National Honor Society member. In addition, she is working towards earning her Child Development Associates Credential. She works at the pre-school at Homestake Peak School, babysits, teaches swim lessons, serves as a Reading Buddy through the Literacy Project, and is one of three teen leads for the Tu Guia / Your Guide project/program with Valley’s Voice and Mountain Youth. Quite a list, right? It’s not even the best part! Frances does what she does (and recommends the same to others) to fuel the future. Not just her future, the collective future. Service to a larger good is not just educating and rewarding, it is “exposing the real roots of the community, the parts we don’t see daily.” At the core is the ability to build bridges. From her perspective, it creates a spider web effect where people are reached, affected, and then contribute to a new community, one that is positive and uplifting. All of this, Frances identified, “has allowed me to find positivity throughout all of COVID.” True to her life mission to want to give back and serve others, Frances completed an internship with a reading specialist and an applied behavioral analyst and she is pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Development at Vanderbilt in the fall. She is gaining momentum to make her dream come true: change the education system. Frances has recognized that there are so many unique learner profiles and different intelligences, that there are countless ways to meet “success” in the classroom. Tapping into every individual’s infinite capability to learn, makes success possible for everyone. Traditional learning has worked for Frances, but that is not good enough. She needs to use her fuel, her energy to make learning possible for everyone. COVID has thrown the balance of life, social life, family, and extra-curriculars off for many students. Her advice is to try to retrieve that balance, to be as close to 100% as possible so that all things align. How to do that? Find things that are exciting and drive individual passion. It will make a difference. Frances is a gem in our Eagle River Valley. Catch her, if you can.

Lao Tzo proclaims that, “To lead people, walk behind them.” When reflecting on the significant impact that Battle Mountain High School (BMHS) junior Jenifer Macias is having on her peers, I recall her quiet but significant role modeling of community and youth engagement. Jenifer has sought out numerous opportunities for herself, from academic to service, in order to learn about various pathways, develop a network, and relish her high school experience. I first met Jenifer as a freshman when she was recruited through a friend and fellow classmate to support Mountain Youth with translation. This volunteer duty supported hours required for her Eagle County School District Seal of Biliteracy. This credential requires volunteerism in both English and Spanish. The program recognized its largest graduating class to date in the 2019-2020 school year, with 72 students earning the Seal, despite the pandemic and remote learning challenges. Jenifer appreciates building multilingual expertise and recognizes the advantages it will offer being able to greet and interact with a broader population. Quickly, Jenifer’s talents were acknowledged, and she was urged to join the Communities That Care (CTC) Process. Facilitated through Mountain Youth, CTC is a multi-year process aimed to build various protective factors or assets while reducing risk factors. Specifically, Jenifer has been co-chairing the Youth Recruitment and Reward work, building pipelines throughout the community to support youth advising. In the “nothing about us without us” mindset, Jenifer thought it would be interesting to help other young people have a voice. “I was surprised that adults were willing to offer paid compensation and give school credit for leadership opportunities,” Jenifer points out. I have personally observed Jenifer design agendas, facilitate meetings with peers and professionals, and eloquently collect feedback on the meeting in a manner that surpasses experiences many professionals can deliver. Since she began in this work, Jenifer has recognized a growing number of youth leadership and advising roles, many of them putting their money where their mouth is and paying young people for roles like tutoring and coaching. In turn, Jenifer explains that “Pay is a motivator because it feels like a job that we take very seriously; we are more committed to doing it well, and we prioritize the work.” She has also recognized a boost in awareness about these types of opportunities. Jenifer touts groups like YouthPower365, SOS Outreach, and Upward Bound as leaders in the field. As a third-year participant in Upward Bound, a program hosted by Colorado Mountain College (CMC) and aimed at supporting first-generation college students, highlights have included college tours and a weeklong stay at the CMC Leadville campus for a summer learning excursion. Heather O’Malley, Director of the local TRIO Upward Bound program, remarks, “Jenifer has consistently been the first person to help her friends stay on track and jump in when they need support. She is very motivated to go to college and puts in more hard work than almost any student I have worked with. Most importantly, she is very kind and has a smile for everyone.” Jenifer has also grown her engagement on campus. As she humbly rattles off her participation in Link Crew, Student Council, National Honor Society, and the Gifted & Talented Program, Jenifer softly remarks that her involvement makes high school more fun. She loves meeting new people and having unique experiences. Jenifer became a Teacher’s Assistant for Ms. Baglietto, who serves as an equity lead in addition to her foreign language instructional duties. “I can relate to Ms. Baglietto- she is Mexican and my family is from Mexico, which helps us to understand each other’s struggles. She also inspires me because she went to school in Paris and has had great jobs,” Jenifer reflects. Jenifer supports organizing and distributing books through an equity library and planning staff meetings on equity to incorporate a student perspective. In Ms. Baglietto’s perspective, “Jenifer has become a right hand I can count on to analyze and review ideas with. She not only helps with the inception and creation of equity, diversity and inclusion programs at BMHS, but she has also stepped into an advocacy role.” Jenifer has been recruited to serve on Youth Equity Stewardship (YES), a Council of students throughout Eagle County Schools representing each middle and high school. YES aims to build bridges by boosting understanding and appreciation of cultural, historical, and other contexts that students bring. Additionally, Jenifer recently advised the Eagle County Schools Board of Education on Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment experiences for Hispanic students. “I never would have thought I could go to a board of adults and tell them what I personally felt needed to change, and they would actually listen. They seemed to care a lot about our opinions,” Jenifer explains. On the topic of advanced classes, Jenifer encourages students to ask their teachers about options, because even though her family wants to teach her, they did not have the capability. Jenifer wants to inform younger students and encourage them to advocate for higher-level opportunities. Jenifer suggests, “These classes are more work than regular classes, but as long as you are willing to put in the effort, they can open so many doors and save money in the long run.” What is next for this soon-to-be senior? Jenifer sees a future in sciences and has treasured her biology and chemistry coursework. Hailing from a family where graduating high school is a significant accomplishment, Jenifer has been motivated for many years to pave the college pathway. “My parents are a huge inspiration to me and talk to me every day about careers and my college path. They came here to build a better life for themselves and for us. I am motivated to do well, so all of their efforts will seem worth it,” Jenifer summarizes. I aim to embody Jenifer’s core mantra as I move forward in my day, “I can do anything, even if the odds are against me.” Written by Michelle Stecher, Executive Director

World Full of YES Brittany Kinney believes in the potential of "Yes," "Yes, it may be hard," "Yes, you can do it!" and, "Yes, I am here to help." It is that dedication and "YES" belief that exemplifies her as a person, community advocate, and this month's difference-maker. Brittany is currently the Senior Program Manager of PwrOn. PwrOn offers year-round career and college readiness for high school students in Eagle County. Youth in our valley lack the resources or support systems necessary to pursue their dreams. YouthPower365 bridges these gaps of resources and support Brittany works with students daily, providing one-on-one advice to students on scholarships, community resources, financial support, academic support, SAT prep, college applications assistance, and much more. Her work doesn't just fit in the confines of an average school day. She supports after-school clubs and helps host pro-social events. She even answers texts and emails late into the night from students asking her for support on coursework. Brittany creates innovative and practical strategies that enable students to reach their highest potential. The word “no” is not in her vocabulary. Finding every possible way to be there for her students, supporting and guiding them, Brittany aims to inspire the YES attitude towards all of her students. "Every door is open for them," says Brittany as she highlights that the world is filled with yes. Brittany believes in all of her students and sets them up to receive 'yes' through knowledge, opportunities, and relationships. She emphasizes the importance of relationships, her awe for the community we live in, community connections, and how these collaborations, apprenticeships, and internships set PwrOn students up for success. Brittany has made such an impact on her students that one asked her to stay in her role until after they graduate. Brittany is true to the word, “yes” because that student is graduating this year and is successfully prepared for college thanks to the dedication and attitude that Brittany encompasses. Students aren't the only ones Brittany makes a lasting impression on. "I was excited to learn that Brittney was moving with students to the High Schools with PwrOn," said Ellen Sirico-Filmore with CareerX, "I see how Brittany still has close connections with students and has the inherent ability to translate student passions about college or career into actuality." To learn more about YouthPower365 and the work Brittany is doing, head over to https://youthpower365.org/pwron/. Brittany's yes-woman mindset should inspire us to take every opportunity to say yes!

The Biennial Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) asks local youth about health topics, including exercise, diet, alcohol, tobacco, drug use, mental health, suicide, bullying, health care, and sexual behaviors (high school only). The survey also asks young people about school life, school safety, trusted adult relationships, and other factors connected with healthy choices. Mountain Youth coordinated the administration of the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey for the seventh time over a twelve-year span in November of 2019. Partnering with 14 public and private schools, 3,786 students were surveyed, providing valuable insight about 6th -12th graders in the Eagle River Valley. This insight allows educators, nonprofit leaders, policymakers, and community program providers to keep a pulse on the behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions of young people in the community. This data is used to steer programming and secure much-needed resources, helping local and statewide policy efforts by utilizing the identified strengths and barriers facing youth. HKCS data helps bring in millions of dollars annually for community partners to support identified needs. “Mountain Youth has worked hard to ensure the community can access aggregate-level Healthy Kids Colorado Survey data in years past via a report. Shifting towards a dynamic dashboard where users can pull information based on their unique interests or work will lead to more transparent and timely data analysis for our partners and the public,” said Mountain Youth Executive Director Michelle Stecher. Mountain Youth has partnered with Eagle Valley Behavioral Health, an outreach of Vail Health, to introduce the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Dashboard to the community. This user-friendly platform allows for a better understanding and breakdown of middle and high school youth behavioral data. The dashboard incorporates data from past years to recognize trends. Users will be able to filter by various demographics for 2015-2019 data. The dashboard is accessible in English and Spanish. It breaks down the information from different behavior areas by years and allows users to filter by grade, age, gender and ethnicity. "The HKCS serves as a primary data set in understanding youth behaviors and is incredibly valuable in helping the district adjust programming to be responsive to changing youth behaviors and attitudes," said Phil Qualman, Superintendent of Eagle County School District. Viewers can access the dashboard by visiting mountainyouth.org/healthykidscoloradosurvey or selecting the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey under the “Our Work” tab from mountainyouth.org. Watch a video on how to navigate the Dashboard here -https://youtu.be/ZdCuDnOErwE The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey and Dashboard are possible in part thanks to supporting from all local schools, the United Way of the Eagle River Valley, Eagle County Government, the towns of Avon and Gypsum, SAMHSA, Colorado Office of Behavioral Health, University of Colorado Denver, and Eagle Valley Behavioral Health, an outreach of Vail Health.

Tyler Morrison is a senior at Eagle Valley High School. Not only is he an outstanding athlete, but also a member of The National Honor Society, holds a job refereeing youth basketball, volunteer tutors, and finds time to share his art with the community. Tyler demonstrates excellence in the classroom as a National Honors Society member and excellence as a human as he donates his time to tutor in the community. He enjoys working with our valley's youth through tutoring because he believes that he can see in each student their intelligence, strengths, and gifts. He thinks it's during this one on one time that you can turn a kid's internal story around from not believing in themselves to seeing that anything is possible. This same sentiment in his life echoes in his job refereeing for Middle school basketball games. He enjoys seeing youth connect to the passion of competition and sport and derives great joy from guiding them towards further understanding the rules and regulations while fostering fun and sportsmanship. Tyler's true passion lies in athleticism. A lacrosse and football player where he has been the football team captain for the last two years, he is also an avid rock climber. In 2019 and 2020, he was voted All-Conference Safety, and it has been through his commitment to team sports that he has learned that you can make a family out of all different types of people. Being on a team means you experience the highest highs and lowest lows and support each other the whole way. Tyler was the Dare Devil Film Festival Winner & Audience Favorite in 2019 and 2020 for his films "Helping Heart Break, a musical about a girl getting her heartbroken and moving through the pain of that with the support of her friends. His second award winning film was "Artist"; here, Tyler investigates the idea that only once we share our vulnerable, authentic selves with the world can we truly experience success. Adaptability is Tyler's work for 2021. He hopes that as we move forward with the new normal of our world, we can be kind to each other, offer grace, and use our adaptability skills. He connects with Charles Darwin's quote: "It is not the strongest, or the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable to change." In the fall, Tyler will attend either Michigan University or Colorado University. Mountain Youth wishes him the best of luck for the future! By: Amy Baker, Family Education Manager

“For many students, she is the one thing that connects the dots from school to life success. She has the magical skill of meeting students where they are at and then keying into their specific needs,” Sandy Schroeder boasts about this month’s difference-maker, Amanda Spannagel. Amanda earns the title of Difference Maker due to her devotion, passion, and commitment to help young people make the best choices for their future. This passion developed while she was teaching English to seniors at Battle Mountain High School. Like most other teachers, Amanda fostered the mindset that every student should go to college, and if they do, there is a successful future for them. This belief is true for many, but not for all. Amanda said that she received a “punch in the gut” when a former student came back from college drowning in debt, still unsure what they wanted to do with their life, saying that college was the worst thing Amanda pushed them to do. This was a hard pill for Amanda to swallow, but this lesson led to a meaningful path. Realizing that there must be other options for students, Amanda was approached by Philip Qualman, superintendent of Eagle County Schools, where she was asked to help develop and head the CareerX program. CareerX pairs young people from Eagle County with local companies, allowing them to explore jobs, learn about local businesses, and build college and career plans that suit their interests. She single-handedly cold-called countless community partners and built opportunities for youth to prepare for their futures. Amanda had 59 youth internships during her first year in the CareerX program. She also collaborated with Colorado Mountain College to offer opportunities to receive certification while in high school to help students join the workforce directly. Multiple avenues were created to provide students with a wide range of skills to prepare them for an unknown future. Another way these students learn these skills is through the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. The AVID college readiness program is the only elementary through higher education instructional system. This program teaches students academic and social skills to develop the habits and behaviors needed to succeed in a rigorous curriculum. Amanda measures success not in numbers, but in young people who come from internships, job shadows, and apprenticeships knowing that they don't want to be in that particular profession. It is the students that are the first to graduate from high school or college in their families. The students that come back and become intricate parts of our community. Those are success stories, but she credits the success not to the work that she has done but to the fantastic partners she works within the valley. She says she couldn’t accomplish anything without her assistants Kristen Ludlow and Ellen Sirico-Filmore, along with the high school counselors and community partners like Christy Beidel, Ben Dodds, Chris Romer, Erik Williams, with Vail Valley Partnership, Christine Albertson with Vail Health , Jen Martinez,and Brittany Kinney with Youth Power 365, Sandy Schroder and Anabel Johnson with Mountain Youth , Mark Hoblitzell with Colorado Workforce, My Future Pathways and Eagle Valley Behavioral Health, to thank a few! Amanda is amazed by everything our youth have to offer. They give her hope for the future. We are amazed by everything she does to provide successful opportunities for youth in the valley. This article is only a short list of the incredible work Amanda does for our valley.

Difference Maker: Hillary Higgins Socks, Students, and Self Care! You might be wondering how the se three things are related. First, let me introduce you to Hillary Higgins; she is a true local, unlike any other! Hillary grew up in Vail and graduated from BMHS. Hillary was not the typical high schooler; she did not just volunteer to pad her college resume. The passion for community service was instilled in Hillary from a young age by her parents. Throughout high school, Hillary was a part of the Reading Buddies Program at Meadow Mountain Elementary School, she volunteered at Special Olympics and participated in mission trips. Serving the community everywhere she goes, Hillary took her guiding principle and purpose for community service to the University of Northern Colorado, where she received her Bachelors’s and Master’s Degree in Sociology. During undergrad, Hillary started a bilingual, multicultural language program for after school elementary students. She spent 3+ years running this program. Hillary’s giving back did not stop there. She then got involved in helping teenage gang members and their families at high schools in Greeley, CO; where she taught English as a Second Language to the whole family to help reduce high school truancy and build positive family dynamics. Next, Hillary helped start a Chicano Art Festival that grew from 40 people to over 400 people. Years later, these programs are still in place in Greeley, CO. You may still be wondering where “socks, students, and self-care” come into this story. Self-care is one of the driving forces behind Hillary’s passion for helping others. Self-care can look different for everyone, so when Hillary learned last year that some students didn’t have access to hygiene supplies, she jumped into action. Hillary partnered with Red Ribbon Project, Mountain Youth, and other local organizations to help with the Hygiene Supply Drive. The Hygiene Drive received over $600 in cash/Venmo donations, and over ten community partners, churches & businesses placed collection bins in their offices. In just over six weeks, over 2,000 hygiene supply items were donated. After finding out in 2020 that the most requested item from high schoolers in Eagle County was socks, Hillary started a sock drive, and in only a month, received $769 & over 200 pairs donated. People don’t realize there are homeless and underprivileged youth in Eagle County. Homelessness looks different here, which can include couch-surfing or living in a car. “Being from this community and knowing there are students in need just breaks my heart. I know this community is overflowing with many great, wonderful, generous people wanting to help, just not knowing how.” Once the word got out, a multitude of community members reached out to help. Hillary met people in parking lots, received daily Venmo notifications, and had eleven bins full of socks. Days after the end of the drive, Hillary is still accepting donations. “The generosity in the community doesn’t stop.” Socks were dropped off at local schools and distributed throughout the community. If you are interested in donating, reach out to Hillary via email at Hillaryhiggins13@gmail.com or donate via Venmo to @Hillary-Higgins-6 (under “what’s this for” add Socks) Hillary wants to thank her parents, Tom and Jackie Higgins, her siblings and their significant others, her boyfriend, Miguel Jauregui, and friends, the Vail Police Department & Communication Center, Eagle River Presbyterian Church, SmartWool, and all community members and partners who made this sock drive successful! Kind-hearted, thoughtful, and hardworking are a few words to describe Hillary Higgins, and we are so thankful to have her continuing to make a difference in our community. Hillary mentioned that her motto is, “If we are going to lead, we need to leave a positive legacy.” If this is the start of her legacy, I can only imagine the enormous impact she will continue to add to her already glowing legacy. Be on the lookout around Thanksgiving 2021 for the next community drive.

The Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy (VSSA), a public school in Minturn that allows students to train year-round in skiing or snowboarding, produces many top-notch athletes and many vibrant, well-rounded students—students like Owen Grimmer. Owen is a VSSA student, a talented cross-country skier, and an excellent representative of the Eagle County community. Owen has attended VSSA since 5th grade and is now a junior, already preparing for a college education in the near future. Natural leadership is a quality that not many people are born with. Owen, however, is an exception to the rule. Natural leaders influence those around them, and they inspire their friends and colleagues to be better versions of themselves. They never put themselves first and continuously check in with their teammates to make sure everyone is on the same page. True leaders are positive in the face of adversity and brave when things get tough. They are not afraid of a challenge—and constantly welcome it. Owen has leadership in abundance, and his positivity is infectious. Although I have not spent a lot of time with Owen, I have witnessed his exceptional leadership. VSSA guidance counselor Charlene Whitney recruited Owen to be on the Valley's Voice Youth Executive Board (YEB) this 20-21 schoolyear. As the youth engagement coordinator and adult support for this program, I meet with the YEB every other Sunday. At every meeting, Owen is a standout. At one meeting, in particular, each member of the YEB brought a group of friends to brainstorm, plan, and propose a community passion project. Not only did Owen demonstrate leadership and initiative by being the first person to sign his group up, but his group ended up receiving the honorable mention award for their extraordinary pitch. Along with Owen, the group included YEB members Dylan Boyes and Joey Greenblatt, along with Jack Ganley – all VSSA students. They focused on substance use for the project, specifically, vaping. Their idea was to bring high school and middle school students together and have high school students talk about why vaping is not a healthy choice with the goal of discouraging electronic vapor product usage. This idea is brilliant because it can be a fully youth-led project and allows the group to take ownership and demonstrate their influence. An anti-vaping lecture led by adults wouldn't be effective, but a discussion led by respected, older peers could have a lasting impact. Owen leads the charge for meaningful change and has the analytical and organizational skills to put that change into action. Other people in his life recognize his natural leadership as well. Scott Hopkins, a science teacher at VSSA, remembers when Owen's 7th-grade science fair project took him to the State Science Fair in Fort Collins, which Mr. Hopkins attended with Owen and his family. They had a blast touring campus, following the awards program and even coded a video game together! Mr. Hopkins shares that "Owen was enthusiastic the entire time and eager to try all of the activities made available to him during the long weekend. Owen's innate curiosity continues to shine through as he works his way through his junior year in my chemistry class. His thoughtful questions and added insight shine as examples of his desire to deeply understand the content and skills he is being taught. It has been so rewarding to get to know Owen more and more each year and to see him excel in so many areas of life - not to mention seeing him live out a desire to help others in his community." When asked who he most looks up to, Owen mentioned his father, Geoffrey Grimmer. Owen said that he is deeply inspired by his dad's hard work and determination to challenge himself while doing what he loves in the process. Owen is especially proud that his dad, Mr. Grimmer, co-founded Zealous Schools here in Eagle County in September 2017. Part of Zealous Schools' mission is to take students beyond traditional learning and allow them to develop critical thinking and leadership skills. It is no surprise that Mr. Grimmer values leadership in young people, as Owen embodies Zealous Schools' mantra of a "healthy citizen, critical thinker, and zealous learner." To put it merely, Eagle County is lucky to have a youth like Owen Grimmer, who strives to live his life to the fullest every day. If Owen could advise other youth and Vail Valley residents about how to live a happier life, he would tell them to "take advantage of things that Vail has to offer" and "just have fun!" I could not agree more. By: Anabel Johnson, Youth Engagement Coordinator

How do you define equity? Tia Luck, Eagle County Schools Equity Coordinator, illustrates that equity is a term used so often. “Equity means something a little different to every person and it is rooted in our own identity and goals” Luck explains. Eagle County Schools defines equity in a manner that allows every student to feel valued and be successful without feeling the need to change who they are. Everything about them, their lives, and circumstances should contribute to them to feel valued at school. Tia Luck and Eagle County Schools are taking initiative to improve opportunities for each student, regardless of differences that may include culture, race, gender identity, ability, age, beliefs, economics, learning preferences, academic history, and other factors. Eagle County Schools has always focused on being a safe place for all students. Tia believes that we are a community where all students are loved by their school and teachers. “By that definition, we have always been a district focused on equity. But it is not just about loving our students, it is about loving them along with understanding their backgrounds and circumstances, including looking at the historical context,” continues Luck. A component of the District’s deep equity work incorporates education and practices to improve understanding of the cultures and history our students are bringing, and then prioritizing opportunities to build bridges between people. Luck encourages this for adults and young people in the community. Michelle Stecher, Eagle County Schools Board of Education members and Mountain Youth executive director is thrilled about the increased investment of the District in equity. As Stecher explains, “Acknowledging the backgrounds of each of our students and the gift of unique perspectives is an advantage in the learning environments we are striving to create, and a boost for each student in their development.” The overall vision for equity in Eagle County Schools is to take steps to eliminate the predictability of success. Currently, success is relatively predictable by certain demographics. Luck believes, “This is unjust. We are not going to see equal academic achievement until we first address access and opportunity.” Enter the Youth Equity Stewardship, where students join with teachers and district-level leaders to become more involved in working to have their voice heard and be leaders in impacting the environments in their schools. These young people are working with the Board of Education and various committees to help steer projects and address opportunities. In this manner, decisions are made WITH students and families versus FOR students and families. This aligns well with Mountain Youth’s goal of collaborating with youth to uplift their voices to guide the work of our organization, and the broader community. “Through the youth-led Valley’s Voice framework, a Parent Advisory Committee, and an extremely active Aprendiendo Juntos Spanish What’s App community, Mountain Youth is working in cooperation with the District and other community partners to build pipelines and to prioritize the voices of those most impacted by specific decisions,” explains Stecher. The vision of Eagle County Schools starts with students and carries through staff, where waves of change in a sense of belonging for all people within our community can be felt. Luck offers a call to action. “We each have a responsibility to step outside of our normal circles. Get to know people who have different experiences than us. Start to build new and different mutual relationships. Through this, we can begin to understand different experiences and perspectives. We can find more in common with people we don’t normally connect with. It is natural to build relationships with people that have things in common with you. There is nothing wrong with that. It’s also important to step outside that comfortable space to help build a better, connected community,” Luck advises. Tips to take action now: Share experiences alongside people who have different perspectives than you. Seek out opportunities to listen to and engage with topics and work important to you. Embrace a mindset of serving WITH and not FOR others. Collaborate. With a community rich in services and initiatives, research and join forces to strengthen local efforts. Think locally. Needs exist here in our community, and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Give generously. Be it via time or financial gifts, invest in efforts addressing equity and working tireless to build bridges. Learn more about the great work being led by Eagle County Schools at https://www.eagleschools.net/sites/default/files/website/Communications/19-20StratPlanPagesRev.pdf

Walking into your first puberty or maturation class can feel uncomfortable for anyone. Comparing yourself to others, trying to understand the program, and probably have many questions you might be too embarrassed to ask. Imagine all of that, on top of feeling like you can not identify with lessons that should be giving them vital information about puberty and health. Many youth have felt this way, but one Battle Mountain High schooler is trying to change that. Rudy Boock felt this way when it came time to attend his school's maturation class. Rudy is Transgender and felt out of place during this discussion; the classes focused on cisgender individuals and had limited resources applied to LGBTQ individuals. Feeling alone in this experience, Rudy wanted to make a difference for others like him. The information that is currently offered by maturation projects and the Red Ribbon Project and extremely helpful. Rudy's goal is to augment those programs by spending more time going in-depth on topics. Rudy adds, "Plus, people don't stop having questions about sex after they take a Sex Ed class." Mountain Youth's mission is to create a community where all youth thrive, a community where our youth's voices matter, a community where young people with a passion can make a difference! Rudy introduced his passion project idea, Extended Sexual Education, to Valley's Voice to be accepted. Extended Sex Ed strives to provide comprehensive, ongoing, and engaging sex education for Eagle Valley's youth through monthly meetings with local experts. The project aims to create a comfortable space for youth to ask questions and learn invaluable information often overlooked in typical health classes by creating a community where youth feel comfortable and supported. ESE wants to break down the shame and taboos surrounding safe sex and foster an environment for learning. With relatable speakers and a more relaxed atmosphere, youth are encouraged to ask questions either in real-time or through an anonymous Google form. The focus is connection; instead of a one-sided lecture, meetings will facilitate group discussion. This environment will help other youth make connections and not feel isolated. They are working to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment. Healthy relationships were the focus of November's ESE meeting. Megan Vogt, a local licensed professional counselor, led a group discussion after viewing the 2018 film, Love Simon. Rudy raved about the first meeting and how Megan's resources and answers were beneficial to everyone in attendance. He is excited for upcoming meetings with topics about safe practices with a registered nurse, a traditional sex-ed class focusing on LGBTQ, and many more. Rudy's passion for creating safe spaces will have lasting effects on many youth in Eagle County. After attending, he hopes that his and his partner's work will change negative mindset and attitudes towards sex ed classes, encourage healthier life choices, and ultimately change negative Healthy Kids Colorado data. To learn more about Rudy's work with ESE, follow @Extended_Sex_Ed on Instagram to keep up with a meeting. https://www.instagram.com/extended_sex_ed/

This month we are featuring anonymous courageous teenagers that reach out for help accessing sexual health resources. They exist in our very neighborhoods and communities. They are strong and smart and brave. Here are their stories; and we need to hear them. This is the reality for teens in our valley. Jennifer’s Health Teacher reached out to me because Jennifer remembered when I came in to teach students sexual health education for six full days, part of which was how to access sexual health care in Eagle County. Jennifer did not recall the name of the clinic, but she did remember that I had told the students they could call me at any time for help. She was extremely scared. Unfortunately, some parents are not able to talk to their teens about sex and may even punish them for bringing it up. These teens are left searching for a trusted adult. Knowing who to reach out to for resources is an essential skill, especially when parents are not viewed as that trusted adult. These teens are plentiful all over the country, and in our community, and they are starving for accurate information. Jennifer was able to get all of the information she needed, and was supported by various trusted adults along the way. Jennifer was 5 weeks pregnant, and was able to visit with a doctor and was provided all of the appropriate services plus counseling. One of Jennifer’s best friends, Maria was a constant source of support during this stressful time. A few weeks later, Maria reached out to me for information. She felt that she needed access to Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC). I helped her to make an appointment at the Title X Family Planning Clinic, and found help in the community to provide transportation for her as well. She was able to talk to a medical provider in private, and make decisions about her sexual health. These are skills: decision-making and goal-setting and these skills apply to all aspects of a teen’s life. Larissa woke one Sunday morning, and was confident that she was pregnant. She was paralyzed with fear in every part of her body. She vaguely remembered the sexual health education that she received at school, and knew that she needed support. Similarly, she called me for support having remembered the sexual health information provided in her health class. The very next day, she was at the clinic and was provided with comprehensive services and support. Comprehensive sex education is just as important as reading, writing and mathematics for healthy life outcomes. We are starting these difficult discussions because we want teenagers to be empowered with knowledge about their bodies and understand the role of sexual health in their lives so they can make well-informed reproductive decisions. Healthy sexuality is an important aspect of development and students should have opportunities to learn about their bodies, practice safety and understand outcomes associated with sexual behavior. Schools are the optimal place for sharing this information because we can meet students where they are—in the classroom. Discussing these issues in school has the potential to normalize a topic that is often considered taboo. Given that most people will be sexually active at some point in their lives, education that provides early, accurate information on the topic of human sexuality has the potential to encourage healthy sexual practices and change the way we view sex and sexual development in the broader society. A round of applause for teens that seek out trusted adults when in crisis; and any teen searching for help, we are here for you. Denise Kipp, dkipp@mountainyouth.org Director of Education, Mountain Youth www.mountainyouth.org Executive Director, Red Ribbon Project www.redribbonproject.org