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Finding Your Voice As A Youth Advocate

This week’s blog is written by Dion McGill, SCY Communications and Community Outreach Manager. Dion was a public school teacher, spending 2 years teaching middle and high school in Alaska, and 2 years in Chicago Public Schools. 

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of traveling down to Springfield, IL for the Illinois Students Against Destructive Decisions annual conference, Dome Shift. 

It was a fabulous weekend filled with a mix of workshops, team building, and networking with SADD chapters from around state. The Preventing Alcohol Abuse in Chicago Teens “I Got This” Outreach Team went down there to meet with all of the fabulous young minds, hand out swag and offer insight into youth advocacy, and to support their fabulous mission there at SADD. 

One of the workshops that was offered during the event was a teen advocacy “Finding Your Voice” workshop presented by Kellie Henrichs, Development and Program Manager of Prevention First, accompanied by her colleague Jody Heavilin. 

What is Prevention First? 

Kellie and Jody work in the Prevention First Alcohol Policy Resource Center.  According to their website,

“Prevention First’s Alcohol Policy Resource Center provides training, education, resources, and tools on evidence-based alcohol policy strategies to municipalities, local officials, law enforcement, and community coalitions focused on underage drinking in communities throughout Illinois.” 

Kellie and Jody presented information to the attendees on “helping participants understand the power of their voice and how to use their voice to create change and create a healthier environment.”  

I’m a huge fan of students getting an education on advocacy, methods of advocacy and using their voice for change in society. This is exactly what I taught as the Program Manager of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence while facilitating The Student Voices Programs, and more specifically the ICHV Activist Institute. 

Kellie and Jody offered some great tips that you can view here. Their tips are especially helpful if you plan on talking to your city council/or town board.

Arrive to the City Council/Board meeting early - you may have to sign up to provide testimony.

Prepare in advance what you want to say. You are there to educate, not ask for the passage of a bill or ordinance.

You will likely have a 3 to 5 minute limit to speak. The meeting may be recorded or televised.

You will need to share your full name and address to the council/board.

Speak from the heart. Share what you’ve seen or experienced. Educate on how underage drinking prevention policies/ordinances will positively impact you and your community.

Be sure to visit the link above to get additional tips from Prevention First.  

As an “advocacy educator,” I always encouraged my students to meet their representatives. I feel like that is a crucial first step: Meet that person, shake their hand, and introduce yourself. Here in the city, that first person is generally the alderman of a ward.  From there, when problems arise, you have a pre-existing connection. I feel like that always makes things easier.  

But yes, allow me to trumpet Prevention First’s message:

Your Voice Matters!

Use it! Frequently! This message isn’t limited to underage drinking prevention, but extends to any problem you may see in your community, whether it is lack of businesses, or potholes. You have to advocate for yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you!