Elevate Youth California
Youth in Action (YIA) empowers young people ages 12-26 in San Diego County’s Border Region to become leaders, advocates, and change agents addressing substance use prevention through social justice and civic engagement. Funded by Elevate Youth California through the Sierra Health Foundation, this comprehensive program provides sustained pathways for youth leadership development while addressing the systemic conditions that contribute to substance use in historically divested communities.
The program’s foundation is the LeadwithU Learning Hub, a three-month cohort where participants explore the root causes of substance use disorder, including systemic inequities, community trauma, and toxic stress. Youth examine how social and environmental factors—from over-policing to lack of green spaces—impact their communities’ wellbeing. Through peer-led sessions and relationship building with trained young-adult mentors, participants develop critical analysis skills while fostering protective factors like social connection and resilience.
Prevention Academy graduates join Action Teams to lead policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change campaigns. The Clean Coast Collaborative, a longstanding YIA Advocacy Team, exemplifies youth-driven environmental justice work, addressing the transborder sewage crisis affecting Imperial Beach and the South Bay. Youth develop essential skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, media advocacy, community organizing, and policy analysis to document environmental conditions and communicate effectively with policymakers.
Through eco-cultural workshops, PhotoVoice exhibitions, and intergenerational community events like posadas and healing circles, Youth in Action integrates cultural pride and environmental stewardship into substance use prevention. These activities foster family engagement and community ownership while building the leadership capacity and collective efficacy needed for sustained community change. Youth don’t just participate in prevention—they lead it, creating lasting solutions rooted in their lived experiences and cultural strengths.
