Summer Institute explores Shaping Healthy Communities: Unleashing the Power of Youth

The Summer Institute in Adolescent Health Shaping Healthy Communities: Unleashing the Power of Youth will explore how to strengthen relationships, purpose, and civic action with young people to build strong communities.

The three-day conference will be held July 29-31 in West Saint Paul, Minnesota.

The first day will focus on practical tools for mindfulness and resilience with youth leaders, youth empowerment and the role adults play in empowering young people. Kao Kalia Yang, a Hmong American teacher and author of The Latehomecomer, The Song Poet and Somewhere in the Unknown World, will discuss how youth engagement and leadership flourish when young people are given the tools to express themselves, are affirmed in their identities, and are supported by caring and inclusive institutions. Marc A. Zimmerman, a psychology professor at University of Michigan School of Public Health, will discuss his research on community-based strategies for promoting positive adolescent development and the application of resiliency and empowerment theory. The work of Irreducible Grace Foundation and Black Youth Healing Arts Center in creating safe spaces for healing will be shared.

The second day will examine the Radical Healing framework to support youth wellbeing. Maria Veronica Svetaz, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, will discuss launching the Radical Healing Initiative at Hennepin Healthcare, where she served as a physician. Mariah Geiger-Williams, the state adolescent health coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Health, will talk about the Minnesota Partnership for Adolescent and Young Adult Health.

The third day will focus on authentic youth-adult partnerships by exploring core elements and applying frameworks that support youth engagement and leadership The work of Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH) as an innovative, youth-driven program working to improve adolescents' health and well-being across the nation will be shared. Erica Koepsel, director of Youth Engagement at PATCH, will discuss how she cultivates impactful adolescent health and wellbeing programs. Ross VeLure Roholt, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work, will discuss his research on youth engagement and youth involvement in democratic and social development.

Summer Institute sponsors include the School of Nursing Center for Adolescent Nursing, the School of Public Health Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Heath, Minnesota Department of Health Child and Adolescent Health Unit, Medical School Leadership Education in Adolescent Health and Saint Paul Ramsey County Public Health Department.