Appalachian Youth to Youth is a leadership and empowerment program that gives young people in Mitchell County the chance to speak up and take action on the issues that matter most to them. The program is inspired by Youth to Youth International, a proven program that helps young people develop leadership skills and make positive changes in their communities.

Through Appalachian Youth to Youth, students participate in discussions, activities, and experiences that help them grow their ideas and abilities to create change in their schools and communities. By taking part in the program, students learn valuable skills that will help them become role models for their peers and leaders for positive change.

This program gives local students a chance to build leadership skills, form lasting friendships, and have fun—all while preparing for success in school and life. Appalachian Youth to Youth is completely free to join, and free transportation home is also provided.

Enrollment for the 2023/2024 school year is open now, and enrollment for the 2024/2025 school year will begin in August 2024. To sign up, contact Tara Wright at info@pathwnc.org or (828) 672-7899, fill out the online enrollment form, or ask your school guidance counselor for an enrollment packet.

The partners for this program include:

• Collaborated with Penland School of Craft for members of Youth to Youth to design an original poster with a positive message—“Enjoy the Little Things”. During Penland Community Day in February, the students volunteered in the printmaking studio as hundreds of community members tried their hand at the Vandercook printing press and took home a print of the poster the students had designed.

• Took a field trip to the Mitchell County Animal Rescue to volunteer and spent the afternoon socializing lonely animals, taking dogs out of their kennels for walks in the fresh air and lavishing attention on a litter of seven puppies.  It was difficult to tell who was made happier by the visit—the students, the animals or their adult chaperones.

• Identified a community need to improve literacy among young children, students in Youth to Youth built, decorated, and installed a Little Free Library at Riverside Park in Spruce Pine, stocked with children’s books in English and Spanish
• Created a rotating bulletin board display in their school which they used to educate their peers on mental health topics such as stress management, anxiety, depression, and healthy coping skills
• Conducted substance use prevention campaigns during Red Ribbon Week. As a part of the campaigns, they read drug and alcohol facts, paired with healthy coping skills and strengths-based suggestions, over the morning announcements for the entire week. Additionally, they hosted a school-wide art contest which gave students the opportunity to creatively express their personal reasons for avoiding substances.
• Voted on community service field trips that match their volunteering interests, which is a part of the service-learning component of Youth to Youth programming. Students have volunteered at the Mitchell County Animal Rescue and the Yancey County Humane Society to provide companionship to lonesome animals. They have also volunteered at the Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Center, Dig In! Community Gardens, and Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Food Ministry.
• Travelled to the Youth to Youth International Conference in Delaware, Ohio. During the conference, students stayed on a college campus, participated in workshops, attended fun social events, listened to inspiring guest speakers, and made new friends from across the country.