Elevate Youth California
Elevate Youth California is a statewide program that addresses substance use disorder by investing in the youth leadership, and providing opportunities for civic engagement for youth of color, ages 12 to 26, who live in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.
The Council’s Elevate Youth California program supports youth leadership development in Oakland and Vallejo. Funded by the Sierra Health Foundation (through the State of California), this program trains young leaders (EYC Fellows) in Alameda and Solano Counties to implement peer mentoring, community engagement, youth advocacy, and outreach activities to middle- and high-school students who may be at risk of SUD.
Fellows receive training in research methods, data analysis, trauma-informed and healing-centered principles/practices, historical analysis and cultural awareness, stigma reduction, public speaking/writing skills, community activism, facilitation skills, social media, communications strategy and policy analysis. Fellows’ SUD training includes education on various drugs, their harms and prevention and treatment options available in their communities; healing-informed practices; and tools/language for reducing the stigma associated with opioid use disorder/mental health services.
Spotlight
Former Elevate Youth California Fellow
Dauttis Karbassi
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Dauttis was a student at Oakland Tech High School when he spotted an announcement about the Elevate Youth California fellowship at Urban Strategies. He became a Youth Fellow in January 2022.
As a Fellow, Dauttis engaged in various outreach activities, data analysis and grant writing. He was most appreciative of learning to write grant applications for funding, because he was not aware of being able to get funds to support his ideas and interests.
Now beginning his third year at UCLA as a chemical engineering student, he will spend his next semester in Madrid! While there, he will focus on Spanish culture and do some traveling to Italy and Morocco. After graduation, Dauttis is planning a career in semiconductor manufacturing.
We are proud of Dauttis’ accomplishments and very excited to see what the future holds for him.
Former Elevate Youth California Fellow
Daria Belle
Following the sheltering-in-place of COVID, 16 year old Daria Belle was ready to connect with other teenagers. Urban Strategies’ Elevate Youth Opportunity program provided Daria with a sense of community. The EYC program became a space for her to not just be a student, but a collaborator.
As a Fellow, Daria gained knowledge about the prevention of substance use disorders, how to administer Narcan and use fentanyl testing strips. All of this information was particularly relevant in the post-pandemic Bay Area. After serving as a Fellow for 18 months, Daria moved on to college.
She is currently a second year student at UCLA, studying Civil Engineering. Daria is appreciative of the skills she gained from EYC, particularly event planning and communications, which have both been valuable in her college experience.
What started as a search for connection became foundational to her success as a college student. We are expecting lots of good things from Daria.
