For the start of 2022, Elevate Youth designed a virtual Social Hour for participants to interact and socialize with one another during these pivotal times. Elevate Youth created a Hangout that allowed participants to be in the driver seat of the program. This allowed for participants to share new ideas for future hangouts, potential excursions, and get a chance to know one another. Our program staff will use what they heard from participants to create fun and engaging hangouts this year. This hangout provided an opportunity for youth to share their current school and work life balances so we could cheer them on for their efforts and learn about everything that they have going on! We saw more participation on camera and through voice which shows that this is a space where youth feel comfortable sharing with their peers and adult allies. Elevate Youth is excited to continue expanding on a ‘healing through creative expression’ approach alongside our participants.
