Shout out to two of our local TADAA members in Klickitat County—Eastin and Zayden—who represented our community on a youth panel at the Rural Network Summit in January. Eastin and Zayden were two of only four youth panelists selected statewide to present to an audience of more than 100 adult attendees.
The discussion was facilitated by the school’s Student Assistance Professional (SAP), Miss Liz, who helped create a supportive space for youth to share their perspectives and ensured the conversation remained centered on prevention, connection, and youth–adult partnership.
During the panel, they shared youth perspectives on prevention efforts in rural communities and highlighted the value of authentic youth engagement in substance use prevention. Adult attendees had the opportunity to hear directly from youth who are actively involved in local prevention work and to learn why youth voice is critical in shaping effective and relevant prevention strategies.
The panelists discussed what youth need to feel supported and emphasized the importance of partnering with youth rather than planning for them. Eastin and Zayden also spoke about the role of connection and belonging for rural youth, identifying strategies to strengthen protective factors by keeping youth engaged, connected, and involved with both peers and trusted adults in their communities.
Eastin and Zayden did an outstanding job helping adult attendees better understand why youth should be meaningfully involved in prevention efforts—particularly when prevention strategies directly impact them. They demonstrated that rural youth are knowledgeable, capable, and well-positioned to identify community needs and inform prevention approaches. Many attendees left feeling motivated to engage youth more intentionally in prevention conversations and initiatives within their own communities.