Appalachian Youth to Youth is an empowerment and leadership program which centers the voices of youth in Mitchell and Yancey counties and provides a space for youth to take action on the issues most important to them. Appalachian Youth to Youth draws inspiration from Youth to Youth International, an evidence-based, youth-driven, adult-guided program that has set the standard for youth development and prevention programming across this country and around the world. Appalachian Youth to Youth seeks to engage young people through meaningful discussions, activities, and experiences, developing their ideas and capacities to implement positive change in their communities and schools.

After receiving a federal Drug Free Communities grant from the U.S. department of Health and Human Services in 2016, PATH launched Youth to Youth programs in participating middle and high schools across Mitchell and Yancey counties. The program has maintained a thriving student membership and successfully completed a number of impactful community projects, with more projects currently underway.

A few of our completed, youth-led projects include the following:

• In collaboration with Penland School of Craft, members of Youth to Youth designed an original poster with a positive message—“You Are Enough”. 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.

• Members of Youth to Youth 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.

• As a part of the service-learning component of Youth to Youth programming, students in each Youth to Youth group voted on community service field trips that match their volunteering interests. 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 Bald Creek Relief, Shepherd’s Staff, Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Center, Dig In! Community Gardens, and Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Food Ministry.

• In July of 2025, Youth to Youth students from Mayland Early College attended the Youth to Youth International Conference, a youth prevention and leadership conference in Delaware, Ohio. Two students were selected to serve as Youth Staff for the conference and had the opportunity to speak on stage, perform in skits, and facilitate small group discussions. The other participants participated in workshops, attended fun social events, listened to inspiring guest speakers, and made new friends from across the country. Several students described the conference trip as a life-changing experience.

Activity Highlights: