January 2026 NEWSLETTER

National Mentoring Month: We proudly celebrate the incredible achievements of our exceptional mentoring team

Our Elevate Youth Tahoe Program is designed to empower Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) aged 12 to 26. It specifically addresses the needs of youth whose life experiences increase their risk of developing substance use disorders. We focus on supporting those who have faced significant challenges, such as involvement with the justice system, foster care experiences, or homelessness. Our dedicated mentors provide youth with the support and resources needed to successfully navigate life's critical transitions. Through tailored guidance and inspiration, we help youth build confidence, develop essential skills, and set ambitious goals. Together, we are making a powerful impact by fostering resilience and growth in our community, ensuring that our youth are prepared to thrive.

Our Mentoring Programs

Mixed Martial Arts Group Mentorship: Designed to help youth build confidence, this program teaches foundational self-defense techniques while engaging in life skills topics such as positive decision-making, accountability, coping skills, education, and future career direction, supporting youth in making safer choices and thriving in our community.

Peer/Peer and Adult/Youth Indvidual Mentoring: Builds trusted, supportive relationships that help young people develop confidence, skills, and a strong sense of belonging. These one‑to‑one connections also allow mentors to provide consistent guidance, model healthy behaviors, and respond to each youth’s unique goals and challenges.

Peer-Led Girls Empowerment Workshop: The workshop is focused on creating a safe, supportive space for young women to build confidence, strengthen self-worth, and develop practical life skills that support healthy decision-making. The sessions reinforce key protective factors for substance use prevention, including emotional resilience, positive peer connections, self-advocacy, goal-setting, and healthy coping skills.

The Boys Empowerment Workshop: This workshop reinforces substance use prevention by strengthening protective factors that reduce risk, including self-worth, healthy peer connection, emotional regulation, and long-term goal-setting.

A Huge shout out to all of our Mentors who show up every day to empower the youth in our community! (Jennifer Drennan, Jacob Garcia, Delos Moore, Courtney Sotelo)

Meet our Elevate Youth Tahoe Team

Chris Cocores, Youth Leadership Manager



"I am incredibly proud of our team and all the effort that's gone into the MMA Mentorship Group. Watching everyone come together to create meaningful, thriving environments for others has been truly inspiring. In many ways, being part of the spaces our team continues to build feels like it is full of connection, growth, and celebration.

A little-known fun fact about me: I never went to prom—but I’m still holding out hope that I will someday."

Hallie Leaventon, Youth Advocate

"Seeing the work our team has accomplished with Elevate Youth Tahoe has been truly inspiring. One project I’m especially proud of is helping to establish the Drop-In Center at South Lake Tahoe High School. This safe and welcoming space provides youth with access to free hygiene supplies and food, while also connecting them to essential resources.

I’ve always had a deep love for the outdoors and spent time hiking long sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, also participating in trail maintenance. Those experiences taught me resilience, patience, and the value of teamwork, and they continue to shape my passion for community work, especially when it comes to supporting youth today."

Anahi Hernandez, Youth Advocate



"I am proud of the Girls Empowerment Workshop I facilitate—what began at Mt. Tallac High School has now expanded to South Tahoe Middle School and South Tahoe High School. Creating spaces where girls can build confidence, feel supported, and find their voices has been deeply meaningful to me.

Something many people may not know is that I’m naturally introverted and tend to be a bit antisocial outside of work. Quiet time helps me recharge and stay grounded, which ultimately allows me to show up more fully for others. Above all, my family is my greatest source of inspiration and motivation."

Edgar Ambriz, Peer Advocate

"One of the projects I'm most proud of is our community, the MMA Mentorship Group. It's been inspiring to see our team create something so authentic and impactful, and nothing brings me more joy than watching kids build confidence and connection within our community. In my spare time, I'm a musician who enjoys writing songs, creating beats, and creating poetry and books. I'm excited to share that I've recently been given the opportunity to audition for a private music university in Boston, and I'm currently preparing for that experience."

National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

In 2025, human trafficking was once again the fastest-growing and second-largest criminal industry in the world. Human traffickers continue to profit greatly from the exploitation of youth and adults within our most vulnerable populations. Sadly, many in California may not realize that human trafficking is taking place in plain view in many different settings and across various industries in their communities. As a result, human trafficking remains underreported, and trafficking survivors frequently go unidentified. LGBTQ+ youth, Tribal youth, and unaccompanied minors are disproportionately impacted due to systemic injustices and incorrect assumptions about who is affected by human trafficking.

Community Connection