Seventeen members of CADCA’s National Youth Action Council (NYAC) gathered at our headquarters in Alexandria, VA, for the first-ever NYAC retreat. Held April 11-13, youth leaders engaged in workshops on goal setting and action planning and collaborated in small groups to develop projects on key issues like fentanyl awareness and social media education. They also participated in local activities by exploring Old Town, Alexandria and taking a tour of the Washington, DC landmarks.

“This retreat gave NYAC members a chance to step away from their day-to-day and connect with each other on issues facing their communities,” said Adrienne Carmack, Senior Manager, Youth Leadership at CADCA. “I’m inspired by the work they put in to take ownership of tough topics and look forward to seeing their final projects.”

The 2024-2025 NYAC cohort consists of 26 outstanding youth leaders representing 15 states and Puerto Rico. The retreat reaffirms NYAC’s role as a platform for meaningful collaboration between young leaders and adults in the prevention field. Following a Community of Practice model, NYAC gives youth members a platform to represent their peers, serve as ambassadors for CADCA, and grow as leaders while highlighting the importance of youth voices.

Through the NYAC, CADCA aims to expand young people’s understanding of important topics, including substance use and overall well-being. Members take the lead on action projects and initiatives, develop and deliver presentations, and strengthen their expertise in prevention and public health efforts.

This program is supported by cooperative agreement number CDC-RFA-PW-24-0080 – Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services through National Partnerships from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.