2 minute read
The Struggle is Real But So is Our STRENGTH!
from RISE No. 2
Next Article
EYE For Prevention is a coalition of 14 paid, young leaders from across the Denver-Metro area who have lived experience in substance misuse and/or mental health struggles We came together to create healing spaces for young people to identify their passions and strengths, while growing together as a community We collect and analyze data to better understand the issues that young people are facing and the root causes of those issues. We then mobilize to come up with creative, powerful projects and prevention strategies to make a positive impact. Authentically engaging young people with diverse, lived experience is vital to our process. We train and educate adults working with youth and decision-makers who impact youth, so we can collectively create environments where our current and future generations can thrive
The EYE For Prevention Youth Coalition invited young people to participate in the #EYEsurvive PhotoVoice Project This project specifically looked at substance misuse and mental health by highlighting that the struggle is real but so is our STRENGTH! Youth were asked to participate in this project to bring awareness to their lived experience, use storytelling as a form of social change and healing, and connect with other young people who are also overcoming struggles through their own strength This was a two-part PhotoVoice project Youth were asked to upload and describe two photos to represent the struggle and strength "The struggle" was defined as causes or contributions to substance misuse (injustices, barriers, social determinants of health, obstacles, and risk factors). "Strength" was defined as elements that help prevent youth substance misuse (resiliency, inspiration, tools that support good mental health and wellbeing, tactics that help overcome challenges, and overall protective factors).
The Youth Leaders developed a PhotoVoice Expo event that uplifted youth voices and resiliency, and they performed qualitative data analysis to create a full PhotoVoice report.
Sedona A Morenon-Castelan is the facilitator of EYE For Prevention If you are interested in partnering with EYE For Prevention, please contact SedonaAllen@dhhaorg.
This image was taken of my partner in Fort Collins I cannot say that this image is indicative of a community or of a place, and as a cultural drifter with no sense of place for my community, it's hard to say what part place plays in my life aside from a matter of fact of a specific time But my community is more than a place, and this picture is indicative of that My partner was up in Fort Collins for school, my best friend and brother are out in Atlanta for school, but despite that, my community has been the friends I've made along the way. For any of our lives to be better, we ought to find those worth being around and believing in, and loving them as much as we can.
Justy Robinson
I am walking through a park and wanted to capture the calmness that nature brings me. My community had never been consistent; the only consistent piece has been movement. Every time I go to the park, I can always be surrounded by trees and foliage. It’s a place for me to detach and heal.
Dakota Perez
This photo was taken during my first day back in the US after studying in Madrid. I was visiting my friend in NYC and we went to a protest. Australia was on fire and every summer since, the US has also been engulfed in flames. It was the very beginning of 2020 which preceded the pandemic, a cause for stress and mental health problems for me and many others This was my first protest of 2020 which became a year of plenty of opportunities to use my voice and bring attention and awareness to injustices
Mikaela Kevil
This photo represents the power of art and expression When I moved to Colorado about 2 years ago, I felt lonely and out of place Art became an outlet for me to safely express how I felt free of judgment and expectations I painted these creation of Adam hands because they represent the fragile yet all-powerful nature of humans as we live and grow with the adversity we face.
