The Youths: Leading, Learning, and Building Community
Think back to when you were growing up. Did you have space to figure out who you were or what you really valued? Could you ask questions, share your ideas, or help shape the spaces you were in? For a lot of us, those opportunities were limited—not because adults did this on purpose, but because most communities and systems just weren’t set up to center youth voice. Looking back, it makes you realize how important it is to make room for young people to explore, learn, and lead today.
That’s exactly what The Youths are doing in Pelican Rapids. This summer and fall, they’ve been stepping up, stepping in, and using their voices to make a difference. At The Bridge Center, we’re proud to host their work—helping them build a community where everyone can feel seen, heard, and valued. The Youths are learning how to lead in ways that center others, build relationships, and create real impact.
Learning What Leadership Looks Like
The Youths are diving into what “modern youth leadership” really means. With guidance from Adam Fletcher and the Civic Bridgers team, they’ve spent time reflecting on what makes a strong leader today. They landed on three words they look for in leaders: Understanding, Pluralism, and Wise. These aren’t just words—they’re a way to show up in conversations, in decisions, and in how they work with each other and their peers.
This summer, The Youths put their leadership into practice by developing and implementing Community Action Initiatives (CAIs) that address local challenges while intentionally building protective factors such as caring adult relationships, opportunities for meaningful participation, and strong identity and purpose. These projects were made possible with support from the Otter Tail County Opioid Settlement grant, emphasizing youth-led prevention as a strategy to reduce substance misuse and strengthen community well-being.
In August, they took their leadership public by leading walking tours for the Blandin Foundation Board, starting at The Bridge Center and ending at Pete’s Treats. The tours highlighted not just landmarks, but the voices and perspectives of the young people shaping Pelican Rapids. The youth practiced shared power, authentic decision-making, and community storytelling—showing that young people aren’t just the future; they’re active contributors today.
This fall, The Youths will dive into the Search Institute’s Developmental Assets Framework, exploring evidence-based strategies that strengthen protective factors and youth agency. Their learning will continue to be grounded in a clear Theory of Action:
When young people are engaged as active contributors in decision-making,
When their lived experiences are valued,
When they are supported as community leaders,
And when we intentionally build caring relationships, opportunities for meaningful participation, and a strong sense of identity,
Then youth experience greater belonging, inclusion, and agency—which leads to improved school and community engagement, better attendance, stronger mental health, and reduced substance use.
The Youths’ work is guided by evidence-based frameworks like Search Institute Developmental Assets, Communities That Care, Youth Leadership in Modern Times, Youth Participatory Action Research, and Youth-Led Prevention Toolkits. Through hands-on projects, reflection, and authentic leadership practice, they are demonstrating how prevention isn’t just a program—it’s about empowering young people to lead, learn, and make meaningful change in their communities.
-Staci Allmaras, Bridge Center Board President
