The Youth Council Goes to Washington, D.C.
The Youth Council attended their first national conference at CADCA in Washington, D.C. 🚌🏛️
They met with Congressman George Latimer and delivered remarks on Capitol Hill alongside the offices of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, advocating for the Drug Free Communities program and connecting with coalitions nationwide around substance use prevention.
Get a taste of what these young leaders experienced in both the video and press release below. We are so proud of them and of the momentum they’re creating!
FROM PELHAM TO CAPITOL HILL
The Youth Council Advocates On National Level
On a February morning sheltered in the New Rochelle train station, there stood five salt-stained suitcases, three eager students, and one opportunity—waiting, and expectant. Washington DC was the destination and Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA) was the host. Advocacy was the aim.
Founded in 1992, under President Bush’s Drug Advisory Council, CADCA was born out of the rapid increase of crack cocaine usage; and it was built to be the leading advisor on national drug control policies. Five years later, CADCA lobbied for the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Act, creating the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance use. Today, the DFC program supports community coalitions across the country, including Pelham Together. Much of what PT is known for exists because of DFC funding—not the least of which is the ability to sponsor a Youth Council, to run employment and counseling programs for local youth, and to hire a Youth Advocate. And as DFC grant recipients, PT was invited to attend the CADCA National Leadership Forum.
This is a conference focused on equipping coalitions with the tools, knowledge, and support necessary to create positive change in communities. It gathers community leaders, coalition members, and advocates alike—including our Youth Council Leaders—all of whom are committed to substance use prevention.
PMHS students Joni Pulaj (11), Taya Senerchia (12), and Emily Walch (12) spent four days at this conference. They attended CADCA’s evidence-based trainings: such as Risky Intersection: Social Media and Youth Collide with Mental Health and Substances, Redefining Strength: How Youth Can Support Mental Health for Boys and Men, and Youth Coalition Advance: Senior Youth Leaders' Role in Coalition Sustainability. They connected with coalitions nationwide over building resilient communities, swapped ideas for youth-led initiatives, and exchanged contact information with other high school students, including from Westchester, who have implemented a variety of programming in their schools. They also spent a day on Capitol Hill.
In a meeting with Congressman George Latimer, our young leaders advocated for Congress to continue to support this approach and these resources for substance use prevention. They highlighted the impact of DFC funding on Pelham youth, citing decreases in youth substance use and the presence of extensive youth-led programs as part of Pelham’s Youth Council as being pivotal to that effort. Congressman Latimer was thrilled to hear their insight and engage with them on the matter. Our students also delivered related remarks alongside the offices of Senators Gillibrand and Schumer.
“What struck me most watching our students advocate on Capitol Hill was how clearly they connected federal investment to real, local impact,” said Laura Caruso, Executive Director of Pelham Together. “Prevention is strongest when it’s youth-led. DFC funding allows us to build the leadership infrastructure for a Youth Council where young people are role models and trusted peers—creating spaces where students turn to one another for support. That sense of belonging is one of the most powerful protective factors we can offer.”
Featuring over 100 workshops, numerous plenary sessions with renowned speakers, and countless opportunities for professional and leadership development, the CADCA National Leadership Forum provided our Youth Council with more resources to drive positive and sustainable change. Our young leaders are looking ahead to drawing connections between national data about the intersection of drug use and mental health with Pelham’s own surveys; to apply creative strategies to the structure of the Youth Council; and to build meaningful collaboration with the community—building blocks for a lifelong habit of being changemakers. From Capitol Hill to Pelham, our young people are bringing with them a renewed confidence in their ability to adapt, innovate, and lead.
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About Pelham Together
Pelham Together is a not-for-profit organization located in Pelham, NY. Our mission is to support the physical, social, and mental wellbeing of all youth by building their resilience and sense of belonging in the community. www.pelhamtogether.org