The Kansas Youth Community Change Conference (KYC3) is an action-packed virtual event open to all middle and high school aged youth. Through interactive sessions and high energy activities, you’ll expand your leadership skills, engage with other youth across the state, and take action to promote positive change in your community!
June 1st – 6:00 PM
Kick Off Session! – Prize Giveaway
June 1st – 7:00 PM
Party for Prevention
Party for Prevention will be a fun and interactive session! In this session you will have an opportunity to create your own “Substance Free Party” and gain more prevention knowledge.
Reece Adams, Kansas Youth Connect
Joy Schwartz, DCCCA
Dena Kemp, DCCCA
Gabriela Hernandez, Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute
June 1st – 8:00 PM
Self-Care: The Time is Now
In today’s society, we are so accustomed to jumping from one thing to the next, constantly connected. Don’t get us wrong, human connection is wildly important… but it is also important to slow down, take a step back and focus on our mental and emotional wellbeing. Through practicing self-care we can learn to take care of ourselves and recharge. When we are able to do this, we can hopefully decrease burnout, emotional fatigue and potential mental health crises. Join us in this session where we will talk through strategies to promote mental and emotional wellness.
Russell Spurlin, Kansas Youth Connect
Abby Aguilar, Kansas Youth Connect
Meg Hasselman, KSPHQ
June 2nd – 7:00 PM
Making progress on your passions: leadership starts with you!
Leadership starts with YOU and must engage others! Come ready to have fun as we consider the ways you can exercise leadership regardless of your age, title, position or status. You’ll even leave with an idea of one experiment you can try out on your own to make progress on something you care about!
Hailey Kisner, Kansas Youth Connect
Katy Weidner, Kansas Leadership Center
DJ Whetter, Kansas Leadership Center
June 2nd – 8:00 PM
Social Hour with Activities Led by Kansas Youth Connect Members
June 3rd – 7:00 PM
What in the world is prevention and how do teens do it?!
Mackenzie Mayer, Kansas Youth Connect
Lydia Fuqua, DCCCA
Chad Childs, Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute
Gabriela Hernandez, Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute
June 3rd – 8:00 PM
What to Know: Transitioning from Middle School to High School or High School and Beyond
A Q&A panelist discussion regarding transitioning from middle school to high school or high school to college. This session aims to cover finding your way, choosing the right path, and navigating life changes. All age groups are welcome!
Hailey Kisner, Kansas Youth Connect
Baylee Parsons, Wayfair
Daniel Donovan, DCCCA
Mike Parsons, DCCCA
June 4th – 7:00 PM
Youth-Led Equity in Prevention
Abby Aguilar, Kansas Youth Connect
Debra Bolton, Kansas State UniversityGabriela Hernandez, Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute
June 4th – 8:00 PM
Debrief of KYC3 Sessions (so far) with Kansas Youth Connect Members
June 7th – 7:00 PM
Teens and Trauma
Russell and Chad invite you to join the session “Teens and Trauma” to learn more about Adverse Childhood Experiences, trauma’s impact on substance abuse prevention, and how we can help each other get through stuff that can ruin lives. The session includes some interactive presentation of science and research, a short video, and conversations in the Chat and with open mics. We’ll remind you that while bad things can happen to good people, you’re not alone to face horrible things. You could probably make it on your own but it could be much better, and more fun, with others who care.
Russell Spurlin, Kansas Youth Connect
Chad Childs, Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute
June 7th – 8:00 PM
Why not YLINK?
Hallie Watkins, Gracie Hendrickson, Alex Young, and Christopher Ward, YLINK Youth Members
Douglas Bowman, Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)
Benjamin Meier, Mirror, Inc.
June 8th – 7:00 PM
How to Engage Your Peers During COVID-19
We are all in this pandemic together. As we are learning how to navigate the uncharted territory we are living in, we need to lean on each other. In this session we will discuss ideas and tools to help engage your peers virtually. Heart to heart conversations will take place on how to address some of the challenges facing youth today.
Mackenzie Mayer, Kansas Youth Connect
Ngoc Vuong, Kansas Youth Connect
Deanne Armstrong, DCCCA
Jordan Roberts, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
June 8th – 8:00 PM
Trivia Night led by Kansas Youth Connect Members
June 9th – 7:00 PM
There is No Planet B: The Solution is Less Pollution
Climate Change. It is real, and it is already happening. Human – caused climate change has made a significant impact on the earth. So much so that new climate change models are projecting that earth could pass the global warming threshold as soon as 2027. Join this session to learn about climate change and what you can do to prevent it.
Taylor Doyle, Kansas Youth Connect
Jordan Roberts, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
June 9th – 8:00 PM
What is happening with your teen?: Opening the conversation.
An interactive session for parents to discuss various topics that teens face today. The session will include statistics of what Kansas teens report and parent’s response to these everyday challenges. Insight will be provided on youth brain development, protective factors and ways a community of parents can come together to help each other navigate raising children in today’s society.
Campbell McNorton, Douglas County Youth Prevention Board
Deanne Armstrong, DCCCA
Kail Winfrey-Gorzek, DCCCA
June 10th – 7:00 PM
Protective Factors for Youth in Substance Misuse Prevention
Alyssa Canning, Kansas Youth Connect
Ngoc Vuong, Kansas Youth Connect
Linda Weldon, Greenbush
Dena Kemp, DCCCA
June 10th – 8:00 PM
Youth Opioid Prevention: Real Stories
Join us for this interactive and storytelling session on opioid prevention! In this session you’ll hear and learn of true stories of teens struggling with prescription opioid misuse and how it affected their lives.
Gabriela Hernandez, Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute
June 11th – 7:00 PM
Tobacco Truths: Exposing the Playbook that Kills
Tobacco is not an equal opportunity killer. Join this session to learn more about the harmful effects of tobacco products, the manipulative marketing tactics of the tobacco industry, how tobacco is a social justice issue and what you can do in you community to fight back.
Reece Adams, Kansas Youth Connect
Hailey Kisner, Kansas Youth Connect
Alyssa Canning, Kansas Youth Connect
Jordan Roberts, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
June 11th – 8:00 PM
Debrief of KYC3 Sessions (so far) with Kansas Youth Connect Members
June 14th – 7:00 PM
Civic Awareness and Engagement: Be the Change You Want to See
Please join us for an interactive session to learn more about what it means to be civically aware as youth, leadership as an activity, and how to educate yourself on community issues and get involved!
Aditya Joshi, Kansas Youth Connect
Shaun Rojas, Kansas Leadership Center
Maren Berblinger, Kansas Leadership Center
Kail Winfrey-Gorzek, DCCCA
Daniela Acacio, DCCCA
June 15th – 7:00 PM
Suicide Prevention: How to Support Peers
This session will provide the opportunity to talk in depth about suicide prevention. For some, talking about suicide feels overwhelming and maybe even scary, but learning some tools to navigate these conversations may ease some of the anxiety. Participants should walk away from this session with a better understanding of how to identify warning signs for suicide, support their peers and connect to ongoing support.
Russell Spurlin, Kansas Youth Connect
Abby Aguilar, Kansas Youth Connect
Reece Adams, Kansas Youth Connect
Meg Hasselman, KSPHQ
June 15th – 8:00 PM
Closing Session – Prize Giveaway!