Youth Leadership

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Calling All Youth Leaders in Prevention!

Young people are essential to strengthening community coalitions. You see and experience firsthand what’s happening in your schools and neighborhoods every day: the challenges, the pressures, and the opportunities, and that insight is invaluable. Your perspective helps ensure prevention strategies are not only relevant, but truly responsive to what is happening on the ground.

At CADCA, building the capacity of community coalitions is at the core of what we do, and developing youth leaders is one of the most meaningful ways to do so. When young people step into leadership roles, prevention efforts become more creative, more effective, and more reflective of the realities facing communities today.

We’ve seen youth leaders create real change in their communities through their involvement in local coalitions. We’ve watched young people transform unsafe parks into vibrant, family-friendly spaces. We’ve seen youth advocate for meaningful policy change, from influencing local ordinances to testifying at state hearings on powdered alcohol regulation. Your voice truly moves things forward, and that impact is felt nationwide.

That’s why CADCA hosts the Youth Leadership Summit as a major part of our National Leadership Forum. Get ready to join us in the nation’s capital for a high-energy experience packed with hands-on training, interactive learning, and sessions led by industry experts and fellow youth leaders. You’ll be able to choose between three-hour workshops for deeper engagement and 75-minute presentations for fast-paced, high-impact learning.

Sessions fill on a first-come, first-served basis, so plan, once a room reaches capacity, it will close. Make your game plan early to secure your spot in the sessions you’re most excited about.

We can’t wait to see you at Forum! As you get ready to join us, don’t forget to prepare for our annual Youth Dance; this year’s theme is Formal/Black Tie. You’ll also want to stop by our Youth Meet Up N’ Chill, where you can relax, connect, and make new friends. It’s all about building community and showing that prevention is stronger, smarter, and way more empowering than substance use.

For more information, email us at youth@cadca.org