2021 Youth Engagement Network Success Stories

In 2021 young people selected “We are the Now” as the Maine Youth Leadership Conference theme. Included in this report are 12 stories exemplifying the present-day leadership of Maine youth, and the myriad of ways we all benefit when young people’s contributions are welcomed and valued within communities. Maine Youth are the Now.

As adults, we are inspired by the youth-led projects detailed here. Each story recommits us to doing our part: supporting the healthy development of youth leaders and striving for more equitable communities. An authentic youth-adult partnership underlies every project within the Maine Youth Action Network. This relational approach to public health work centers our most important experts—the public, specifically a diverse subpopulation within communities historically excluded from policy-making. We are stronger together.

The US CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health Success Story model describes success stories as “a narrative—usually between one and two pages—highlighting the achievements and progress of a program/activity… When presented effectively, success stories can be a useful tool for educating your stakeholders about the outcomes of your work and the results you are achieving.” These stories spotlight the caliber of partnerships and projects happening in every public health district and at the state level. We credit the facilitators who model best practices in youth-adult partnerships and offer our thanks to the innumerable youth leaders whose vision brought each project to life. Thank you!

Read the full report