In 2022…

Marin 9 to 25's Youth Visioning Workgroup brought together over 70 youth participants and 36 scholarship recipients
More than 80 participating agencies
Monthly newsletters reaching 764 community members
Received the Elevate Youth Capacity Building Grant

Watch this great video below on 2022 Marin 9 to 25 Highlights made by our intern, Gabby Agar!

Marin 9 to 25 is a dynamic coalition of Marin County youth and adults, whose mission is to ensure that every young person in Marin County has access to the resources and support they need to thrive physically, mentally, and socially. The coalition operates under several key principles, including a shared agenda, coordinated activities, and communications to ensure everyone is working towards the same goal. In this blog, we'll take a look at the incredible achievements of Marin 9 to 25 in 2022 and what we can expect in the coming year.

Steering Committee Meetings

With an average of 60 attendees at each quarterly meeting over the past year, youth-led discussions have served as a platform for productive dialogues with county and community leaders. The identified needs of Marin youth from these meetings include mental health, sexual health, substance use, equity, and education.

“A highlight in 2022 was to participate in a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) training that had a focus on modeling healthy youth and adult partnerships, while giving us strategies to combat adultism. It was powerful to participate alongside our M9to25 youth.”

-Maureen “Mo” de Nieva-Marsh, Marin 9 to 25 Advisor, County of Marin

The Elevate Youth Capacity Building Grant

In 2022, Marin 9 to 25's Youth Visioning Workgroup was awarded the Elevate Youth capacity building grant. The grant was designed to support the Youth Visioning Workgroup and OD Free Marin Youth Action Team by offering scholarship funds and per diem stipends for youth who are participating or interested in community programs in Marin County. Through this grant, over 70 youth participants and 36 scholarship participants had the opportunity to drive the agenda for Marin 9 to 25, participate in design sessions and focus groups, and engage with youth initiatives and wellness services across the county. To hear more about the great work of the Youth Visioning Workgroup from 2022, check out this video from Youth Co-Chair Talia Harter! To look at our past meetings visit our youtube channel.

“In my work in the community, I have seen firsthand the value of incorporating the voices of youth into important decision making that concerns us. We are more likely to engage in and benefit from services that have incorporated a youth perspective.”

-Talia Harter, Youth Co-Chair, 2021-2022

“Looking back on 2022, I am thrilled with the increasing number of youth getting involved in Marin 9 to 25. The Youth Visioning team is now an energetic, compassionate, and diverse group of students that are working together to amplify their existing efforts and projects for a bigger impact in our community. For youth and by youth!”

-Nancy Vernon, Marin 9 to 25 Advisor, County of Marin

Youth Resource Guide and Wellness Campaign

One of the projects from 2022 was the Youth Resource Guide and Wellness campaign. Marin 9 to 25's Wellness Action Team, in partnership with BHRS and MCOE, identified the need for a youth-driven resource guide in the county. The guide will be designed and created by Marin youth. It will cover topics such as substance use and recovery, sexual health, mental health, and immigration resources, including information about access, eligibility, confidentiality, and geography, as well as youth testimonials. The guide will be available in 2023 in both print and online versions and will be supported by a youth-driven campaign.

The Nod App

Another project of the Youth Visioning Workgroup is rolling out the Nod app to all Marin youth. The app was co-created with Hopelab to address isolation and loneliness among college students, and the high school version has recently launched. The Youth Visioning Workgroup provided positive feedback after demoing the app and recommended a county-wide rollout. An Innovation grant application has been submitted to make the Nod app available to all Marin County high school students and first-year graduates, in both English and Spanish. To learn more, check out the elevator pitch video by Marin 9 to 25 Youth Co-Chair (2022-2023) Sammy Lee!

“Marin 9 to 25 is leading several initiatives that help reduce loneliness and isolation for youth. These initiatives include a youth developed resource guide and the implementation of an app called Nod.”

-Sammy Lee, Youth Co-Chair, 2022-2023

Looking Ahead

Marin 9 to 25's 2022 to 2023 goals are based on four strategic pillars: youth-driven agenda setting, education and awareness, youth services hub, youth participation, community engagement, and organizational alignment toward common goals. The strategic pillar on Youth Driven Agenda Setting, Education, and Awareness has set major outcomes for 2022-2023, including the identification of important initiatives by the Youth Visioning Workgroup, updated website and social media based on youth needs and interests, and educational opportunities and training.

“The Marin COE values our partnership with the Marin 9 to 25 initiative. Marin 9 to 25 brings together youth and their allies in innovative and inclusive ways that support youth leadership and engagement in programs and efforts that improve youth outcomes. We look forward to our continued partnership.

-Kristen M. Law, Marin County of Education (COE)

Thank you to our partners!

The work that Marin 9 to 25 has accomplished would not be possible without our community partners, including local organizations, government agencies, schools, and youth. Through the Elevate Youth capacity building grant, the youth had the opportunity to drive the agenda for the coalition, participate in design sessions and focus groups, and engage with youth initiatives and wellness services across the county. The Youth Resource Guide and Wellness campaign and the Nod app are two examples of the innovative projects the Youth Visioning Workgroup is working on. Looking ahead, Marin 9 to 25 has set ambitious goals for 2022-2023, focusing on four strategic pillars, including youth-driven agenda setting, education and awareness, youth services hub, and youth participation and community engagement. To learn more about the great work of Marin 9 to 25, check out our website and subscribe to our newsletter!

Thank you to our advisors Maureen De Nieva Marsh, Nancy Vernon, Samantha Klein, Diango Reyes and Lisa Miller. And a special thank you to our Youth Co-Chairs, Talia Harter (2021-2022) and Sammy Lee (2022-2023).

“Looking back on 2022, I am thrilled with the increasing number of youth getting involved in Marin 9 to 25. The Youth Visioning team is now an energetic, compassionate, and diverse group of students that are working together to amplify their existing efforts and projects for a bigger impact in our community. For youth and by youth!”

-Nancy Vernon, Marin 9 to 25 Advisor, County of Marin

Youth Resource Guide and Wellness Campaign

One of the projects from 2022 was the Youth Resource Guide and Wellness campaign. Marin 9 to 25's Wellness Action Team, in partnership with BHRS and MCOE, identified the need for a youth-driven resource guide in the county. The guide will be designed and created by Marin youth. It will cover topics such as substance use and recovery, sexual health, mental health, and immigration resources, including information about access, eligibility, confidentiality, and geography, as well as youth testimonials. The guide will be available in 2023 in both print and online versions and will be supported by a youth-driven campaign.

The Nod App

Another project of the Youth Visioning Workgroup is rolling out the Nod app to all Marin youth. The app was co-created with Hopelab to address isolation and loneliness among college students, and the high school version has recently launched. The Youth Visioning Workgroup provided positive feedback after demoing the app and recommended a county-wide rollout. An Innovation grant application has been submitted to make the Nod app available to all Marin County high school students and first-year graduates, in both English and Spanish. To learn more, check out the elevator pitch video by Marin 9 to 25 Youth Co-Chair (2022-2023) Sammy Lee!

“Marin 9 to 25 is leading several initiatives that help reduce loneliness and isolation for youth. These initiatives include a youth developed resource guide and the implementation of an app called Nod.”

-Sammy, Youth Co-Chair, 2022-2023