Mustang Youth Team Heading to D.C.

By Sydney Trainor
Yesterday, 09:24 AM

On Saturday, Jan. 31, a group of middle and high school students will be leaving to go on a weeklong trip to Washington D.C. to attend the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) National Leadership Forum. These students were chosen to go through their involvement in the local Mustang Youth Team, a part of the Frontier Community Coalition.

The Mustang Youth Team plays an active role in prevention education, leadership development, and community engagement. They are the youth leadership arm of the Coalition.

This year, seven students are attending, including Mia, Millie, and Miley Canchola, Austin Gallagher, Lillian Wagner, Josiah Hunt Jr., and Emma Blondheim. They will be staying at the Gaylord National Resort, which is the host site for the national conference.

The CADCA National Leadership Forum is an event that is held to bring youth and adults together from across the country to strengthen community prevention efforts. This year’s theme is “Resilient Communities, Lasting Change.” The conference will focus on building confidence, learning alternatives to school suspensions, and engaging communities to create lasting change. Other leadership and prevention skills will also be taught.

This trip is funded through both youth-led fundraising and sponsorship from the Nevada Department of Public and Behavioral Health, through a block grant. Community donations are always welcome to support the team. Donations may be dropped off at the Depot or mailed to P.O. Box 1460. They travel twice a year and are already fundraising for their next trip in July, which will be to Orlando.

Any students who are interested in joining the Mustang Youth Team can get involved by picking up an application at the Depot. They can also ask current Mustang Youth Team members or their school’s principal for more information.

According to Tina Gallagher, Deputy Director of Frontier Community Coalition, “The group is extremely excited, especially about touring the White House, which is a first-time experience for many of them.”