Elevate Youth focuses on reducing substance use disorder and healing the harms created by the war on drugs. Youth ages 12-26 are engaged through arts-based activities that promote creative expression. One goal for Elevate Youth is to create more youth-led opportunities. Typically, staff design the flyers used to promote hangouts and other upcoming events. An informational flyer was designed to encourage more youth to join the program. The informational flyer will be shared in the program’s target cities of Anaheim, Orange, and Santa Ana. To honor the youth-led mission, staff facilitated three focus groups where youth shared strategies and designs that will appeal to other youth and encourage their participation in Elevate Youth. They provided suggestions on the graphic elements, colors, and wording to include on the flyer. Staff gathered the youth’s feedback to redesign the flyer. Youth emphasized the program’s ability to provide a safe and comfortable environment. A powerful phrase shared included “Come for the fun, stay for the skills.” Staff hope to continue providing leadership opportunities and including youth in the decision-making process.
