Two area students were recognized at United Way of Northern Arizona’s Annual Campaign & Community Luncheon held at Little America in Flagstaff last week. Tyra Dixon, a senior at Joseph City High School and Bobbi Seaton, a junior at Holbrook High School, teamed up to collect data and gain insight into the needs of youth in rural Arizona as part of an internship they took part in. The data they collected was presented to UWNA and other organizations who recognize the vital role of youth well-being in ensuring a bright future for local communities and are seeking ways to meet that goal. This internship opportunity was created through a partnership between UWNA, Center for the Future of Arizona, Work-based Learning Alliance and Grow Arizona Workforce Network.
UWNA CEO Liz Archuleta addressed the more than 300 individuals in attendance who represented various government, business and non-profit organizations in Northern Arizona, noting that during the six-week internship Tyra and Bobbi did an analysis of current issues facing youth in Northern Arizona. She explained that both Tyra and Bobbi were drawn to the internship because they knew people who had turned to substance abuse as a way of coping with stress and anxiety.
Archuleta commented, “According to a survey they administered, the majority of the teens indicated they frequently feel anxious and under pressure in school and in work. About half of the students felt they had someone to talk to about their concerns, but most relied on music, exercise, sleeping or time alone as ways of coping with the stress they felt.”
Archuleta noted that the survey gave the girls a better understanding of the mental well-being challenges faced by their peers and pointed them to a recommendation. “They recommend a youth center with after school and weekend programming for teens, with drop-in classes, clubs and activities ranging from well-being to resilience classes, to music, workforce development and mentoring programs. A place where all youth feel a sense of belonging and inclusion.”
This recommendation fits UWNA’s Step Up for Our Youth program, which has three initiatives including Kindercamp for early childhood development; Launch Flagstaff, for positive youth development; and the third initiative of addressing vital needs in communities including food, shelter and safety by providing temporary shelter, food and financial assisting that allows families to move from day-to-day existence to planning for a positive future.
Both Bobbi and Tyra have plans to enter into the medical field upon graduation, with Bobbi accepted into University of Arizona’s Med-Start program this summer before entering her senior year at HHS and Tyra intending to earn a certificate as an ultrasound tech from Yavapai Community College after graduating this year.
