The voices of Native youth rang loud and clear this past year, as the Agua Caliente Young Adults stepped into civic arenas and leadership roles with courage and clarity.
In Fall 2024, the youth council took on the call to action around elections, supporting voter registration drives and amplifying UNITY’s Native Vote campaign. Their focus was on empowering peers to see themselves as voters, change-makers, and leaders. At school events and tribal gatherings, youth leaders shared voter registration resources and spoke about the importance of political engagement. “It’s the best place to be open about what you think and what you want to do for your…community,” one young leader shared at a voter drive, voicing the newfound confidence the council helped cultivate.
That same spirit of advocacy continued during Native American Heritage Month, when Agua Caliente youth participated in a powerful town hall on youth mental health. The televised panel, titled “Never a Bother: Real Talk from Native Youth on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention,” featured their honest perspectives. Youth panelist Penelope Hyde shared, “A lot of the struggles I see in my school and community are substance abuse and alcoholism.” Her candid remarks sparked meaningful dialogue and reinforced that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Through these civic efforts, the Agua Caliente youth are not only showing up—they are speaking up, leading by example, and reshaping narratives about Native youth and their role in democracy. The youth council has worked to elevate youth voices in public forums and encourage their peers to participate in civic life:
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Native Youth Town Hall on Mental Health (Nov 2024): As part of Native American Heritage Month, Agua Caliente youth joined other Native teens in a panel titled “Never a Bother: Real Talk from Native Youth on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.” This forum – broadcast on public television – allowed youth to discuss challenges like substance abuse, trauma, and social media pressures abc7.com. “A lot of the struggles I see in my school and community is substance abuse and alcoholism,” one panelist, Penelope Hyde, shared, noting generational trauma and unrealistic social media images as issues teens face abc7.com. The event’s message was that it’s always OK to ask for help, and by speaking out at this town hall, Agua Caliente youth leaders helped destigmatize mental health for their peers.
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Voter Registration and ‘Native Vote’ Drives (Fall 2024): With the 2024 elections approaching, the youth council promoted civic participation among Native youth. In September 2024, UNITY provided a Get-Out-The-Vote toolkit to its member councils, including Agua Caliente, to “amplify Native voices” and empower young people to register and vote unityinc.orgunityinc.org. Agua Caliente youth representatives shared informational resources and encouraged voter pre-registration drives in their community, echoing UNITY’s emphasis on youth civic engagement. By engaging their peers in voting efforts, the council helped ensure Native youth were heard at the ballot box.
These civic initiatives illustrate the council’s commitment to community leadership beyond cultural activities. Whether addressing mental health in a public forum or boosting voter turnout, the Agua Caliente Young Adults are making sure youth have a voice.