The Official Kickoff of the New Hampshire Youth Network Was a Huge Success! Courtyard Marriott, Nashua, NH The Summit happened Friday, Nov. 20 and Saturday, Nov. 21.

A New Generation of Leaders Gathered at Two-Day Statewide Summit

About 140 youth, ranging in age from 11 to 18 from communities across the state of New Hampshire, gathered for a weekend summit in Nashua late last month.  

The New Hampshire Youth Network, a program of Breathe New Hampshire, hosted the two-day kick-off event for the newly launched network.  The summit was planned and conducted by youth for youth.  “The network is led by a Youth Advisory Board (YAB) composed of thirty youth from across the state,” said Diane Smogor, VP of Program Services for Breathe New Hampshire. She added, “The YAB members met for months planning the logistics, the content of the workshops, and promoting the event to their peers.”

The idea behind the New Hampshire Youth Network is that informed and well equipped young people will be ready and able to advocate for healthy breathing and other healthy choices at the local and state level.  “The best way to eliminate lung disease is to stop it before it ever begins,” Smogor said.  Over the two agenda-packed days, the youth were schooled in topics that affect our ability to breathe well, such as vehicle idling, climate change, greenhouse gases, radon, and secondhand tobacco smoke.  They were also taught the skills needed to successfully educate others and advocate for public policies that will help keep the air cleaner.  Skill building workshops included presentation skills, advocacy skills, examples of activism, and working with the press.  All but two of the workshops were actually planned and presented by teams of youth with adult guidance and support.

Before the summit wrap-up, youth from the same home towns gathered and formed community action plans based on what they had learned at the summit.  They will take these plans and implement them in their own neighborhoods, schools, and towns.  Youth Program Manager, Kim Coronis, will be following up with the various youth groups and providing technical assistance and resources to help facilitate local efforts.  She will also coordinate future efforts at the statewide level.  “We are really excited about this new initiative,” said Dr. Albee Budnitz, a Nashua Pulmonologist and longtime Board member of Breathe New Hampshire.  “We spend so little time and resources on prevention, which is very short-sighted.  I see the results of lung disease in my practice every day and I’m thrilled to be a part of this movement that I believe will ultimately result in fewer cases of lung disease.”

The summit was not all work with no play.  There were opportunities for the youth to enjoy the indoor pool at the Marriott Courtyard in Nashua, site of the summit.  “The youth bonded so quickly and so well,” said one youth adult advisor.  The attendees were also treated to a black light dance, which sparked memories for many of the adult advisors and chaperones at the event.  “It is important to remember to keep an element of fun when working with youth,” said Smogor.  “We were very pleased with the outcome of this event and look forward to working with youth across NH on regional and state projects”