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From Data to Action:

Youth Leading Meaningful Change

In Vermont and beyond, teams are digging into the data and discovering what’s possible when youth voices lead the way! As young people deepen their engagement and expand their impact, they’re also building the skills and confidence to lead meaningful change.

UP's Getting to 'Y' program allows youth to analyze and act on their own state, county, and/or school Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data. The YRBS helps educational leaders, public health professionals, policymakers, and youth see challenges more clearly and target action to help address them as they currently exist. UP works alongside youth to develop action plans that draw on their lived experiences, examine biases that shape how adults perceive youth behavior, and use data to inform meaningful change.Getting to 'Y' Program Coordinator Berty Belote highlights impacts and upcoming opportunities in the article below.

Learning, Celebrating & Connecting

Below you will find the invitation to UP's Annual Virtual Celebration where youth and adults will share the process, actions, and impacts of their UP-facilitated projects. Register today for the November 12 virtual event.

Also on November 12, UP and the Governor's Institute of Vermont will host a youth-led Education For A Thriving Future Summit.

The UP team looks forward to an opportunity to learn from and with you! Reach out with questions or opportunities to collaborate.

Getting to 'Y' UPdate

Before diving into all the exciting work happening now, let’s take a moment to celebrate the accomplishments of last year’s Getting to ‘Y’ teams. For their action projects, teams took on an impressive range of initiatives: collaborating with local health organizations, establishing student groups, creating and managing hygiene closets for youth in need, leading awareness campaigns, organizing skills fairs, and representing their teams at the Statehouse and national conferences—and so much more!

Youth and adults alike reported that participating in Getting to ‘Y’ increased their knowledge and confidence in using data to advocate for change. Participants also reported a greater ability to recognize where equity does—and doesn’t—exist in their communities. Perhaps most strikingly, participants’ comfort with speaking in front of groups increased by 21%! As young people deepen their engagement and expand their impact, they’re also building the skills and confidence to lead meaningful change.

Burlington (10/20/2026)
Rutland (10/27/2026)
St. Johnsbury (11/12/26)

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO COVER PROGRAM COSTS - email us for details.

UP's Berty Belote and Harry Frank accept the Mary R. Cooney Restoring Futures Award from Liz Brochu, Communities for Alcohol and Drug Free Youth (CADY).

UP Recognized in New Hampshire for Getting to 'Y'

On October 2, Communities for Alcohol and Drug Free Youth (CADY) celebrated the widespread success of the NH GTY teams at its twenty-fourth annual Regional Prevention Summit, recognizing the difference young people and adults can make when they work together. The Summit focused on community accomplishments in empowering healthy choices, drug-free lifestyles and promising futures and expressing appreciation to CADY’s community partners. During the Summit, UP for Learning was presented with the Mary J. Cooney Restoring Futures Award. This award honors outstanding contributions to youth empowerment, building healthy environments, and helping young people in the community navigate challenges to reach their full potential. UP is grateful for our partnership with CADY, which has helped bring Getting to ‘Y’ and expanded opportunities for youth empowerment to New Hampshire. This heartfelt dedication was made by Project Director Liz Brochu, who led the program’s implementation on the ground over the last two years.

Vermont:

We Need Your Input by October 30!

UP for Learning and the Vermont Council on Rural Development are conducting a survey on youth engagement in Vermont. The survey was developed by the Center for Rural Studies at UVM in collaboration with a diverse youth-adult Steering Committee, ensuring that youth and adult perspectives helped shape this important project. This project aims to explore the ways organizations across Vermont practice youth engagement, youth-adult partnership, and/or involve youth in their mission.

We would appreciate it if you could take 10-15 minutes to take this survey on behalf of the organization that you represent. Your participation will be valuable even if you do not think your organization partakes in youth engagement. Also, please feel free to share this survey with other individuals and organizations in your network. Thank you for your participation!

Follow this link to take the survey. Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser: https://qualtrics.uvm.edu/jfe/form/SV_8erSf7GxTNJzj26

UPComing Opportunities

Learn more about all UP programs HERE and how we can customize our research-based strategies to help your school or district reimagine and transform education.

Opportunities from UP Partners

Applications are now open for the Opportunity Youth Congressional Liaison (OYCL) Program! This paid fellowship is for young people ages 16–26 who have been disconnected from school and work, or who have lived experience in systems like foster care, juvenile justice, housing instability. Learn more about the OYCL Program. Stay tuned for a link to the upcoming info session on Oct. 21.

The Vermont Secretary of State's Office is currently seeking nominations for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award. This award was established in 2021 by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). The award honors the extraordinary accomplishments of Congressman John Lewis. The national award recognizes those 25 years or younger who have demonstrated leadership abilities, have a passion for social justice, and are motivated to improve the quality of life in their community. If you’d like to nominate someone, please click here! The deadline for nominations is November 13, 2026. Please feel free to share widely with your networks!