Youth Action Council

The Genesee County Prevention Coalition Youth Action Council is a diverse group of youth dedicated to elevating youth voice by providing opportunities to lead and promote change in their communities. The GCPC YAC aims to advocate for substance use prevention and promote mental wellbeing among Genesee County youth.  

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Grades 8-12 Monthly Meetups

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Build Future Leadership:

  • Learn healthy life skills
  • Be a part of the local community change
  • Connect to community professionals​
  • Develop resumé skills
  • Volunteer Opportunities

Y.A.C. Recent News

Photovoice Research Project

Photovoice is a participatory research method that aims to:

  • Empower people whose voices often go unheard.​
  • To better understand the political, economic, social, and psychological forces that shape their environment and lives. ​
  • To bring awareness and change through storytelling.
  • Building With Missing Letters

    Jaeta Green

    Building With Missing Letters

    A place where people used to bowl, now closed and in disrepair. This picture shows our shift in values and priorities. People are slowly starting to spend more time and money at cannabis retailers and socializing with cannabis instead of healthy community gatherings.

  • Photo of Us in the Office

    Emma Smith

    Photo of Us in the Office

    In this photo , we see the Youth Action Council. In this moment, they were trying to figure out what to do about a pin maker that was simply not working. This is a massive part of YACer's jobs; they work together to figure out solutions to mental health and drug issues youth experience in our community. Not only are they figuring something out, but they are also creating a moment with each other.

  • Happiness

    Malia Shimmel

    Happiness

    This is like real happiness- just being present with people. But when weed gets involved, it can mess with that, and you're not fully there.

  • Car With Airbag

    Jaeta Green

    Car With Airbag

    In this picture, we can see how marijuana can shape our moments. Driving under the influence can change a happy moment quickly, resulting in trauma or altered circumstances.

  • Crypto Billboard

    Ozzy Burchell

    Crypto Billboard

    This billboard shows how this cannabis retailer uses different marketing tactics to entice a person to buy from them. The promise of fresh doses and being able to use cryptocurrency to buy this cannabis may provide someone with a higher urge to buy from them.

  • Aquarius

    Malia Shimmel

    Aquarius

    This is what we see everywhere now. It looks cute and harmless, but its literally designed to pull teens in and make it feel normal.

  • Choices

    Ozzy Burchell

    Choices

    This image shows two different ads on the topic of cannabis. One sign shows an advertisement for a retailer while the other provides the viewer with advice on driving sober. These two billboards represent the choices we have and the choices we make when substance use is common in the community.

  • M420 Sign

    Emma Smith

    M420 Sign

    A cannabis store located right behind a high school. Stormy clouds, but the message is clear: The bright light is a beacon. When dealing with difficult thing, some people see marijuana as a light in the dark-a way to manage stress and anxiety. Marijuana doesn't actually do this. Many times, it can perpetuate the darkness.

  • Blue Wall With Trash

    Jaeta Green

    Blue Wall With Trash

    In this picture, we see a tree that is surrounded by trash and vape products, showing that the choices we make negatively impact the environment.

  • Slapwoods Joint Wrappers

    Emma Smith

    Slapwoods Joint Wrappers

    A joint wrapper package in the grass highlighting a toxic thing in a very nontoxic environment. Over time, it has become more common to see cannabis, vapes, and cigarettes mixed in with litter on the streets. When our streets are flooded with drug use products, it becomes very hardto define your own opinion on what is right based on what you see. Along with not really being able to form your own opinion, our youth are exposed to use, further impacting judgement.

  • Smok Billboard

    Emma Smith

    Smok Billboard

    A billboard that shows a sale on Muha's. As Americans, we crave discounts because of own consumerism culture. Sales are additive and sometimes unescapable. For some who aren't educated about the risks, this kind of marketing may work, which contributes to a culture of cannabis use in ourcommunity.

Participant photo
Jaeta Green

Building With Missing Letters

A place where people used to bowl, now closed and in disrepair. This picture shows our shift in values and priorities. People are slowly starting to spend more time and money at cannabis retailers and socializing with cannabis instead of healthy community gatherings.

Participant photo
Emma Smith

Photo of Us in the Office

In this photo, we see the Youth Action Council. In this moment, they were trying to figure out what to do about a pin maker that was simply not working. This is a massive part of YACer’s jobs; they work together to figure out solutions to mental health and drug issues youth experience in our community. Not only are they figuring something out, but they are also creating a moment with each other.

Hands creating a heart symbol
Malia Shimmel

Happiness

This is like real happiness — just being present with people. But when weed gets involved, it can mess with that, and you’re not fully there.

Car steering wheel with deployed airbag
Jaeta Green

Car With Airbag

In this picture, we can see how marijuana can shape our moments. Driving under the influence can change a happy moment quickly, resulting in trauma or altered circumstances.

Billboard advertisement
Ozzy Burchell

Crypto Billboard

This billboard shows how this cannabis retailer uses different marketing tactics to entice a person to buy from them. The promise of fresh doses and being able to use cryptocurrency to buy this cannabis may provide someone with a higher urge to buy from them.

Discarded vape pen with Aquarius design
Malia Shimmel

Aquarius

This is what we see everywhere now. It looks cute and harmless, but it’s literally designed to pull teens in and make it feel normal.

Participant photo
Ozzy Burchell

Choices

This image shows two different ads on the topic of cannabis. One sign shows an advertisement for a retailer while the other provides the viewer with advice on driving sober. These two billboards represent the choices we have and the choices we make when substance use is common in the community.

Participant photo
Emma Smith

M420 Sign

A cannabis store located right behind a high school. Stormy clouds, but the message is clear: The bright light is a beacon. When dealing with difficult things, some people see marijuana as a light in the dark — a way to manage stress and anxiety. Marijuana doesn’t actually do this. Many times, it can perpetuate the darkness.

Blue Wall
Jaeta Green

Blue Wall with Trash

In this picture, we see a tree that is surrounded by trash and vape products, showing that the choices we make negatively impact the environment.

Slapwoods wrapper
Emma Smith

Slapwoods Joint Wrappers

A joint wrapper package in the grass highlighting a toxic thing in a very nontoxic environment. Over time, it has become more common to see cannabis, vapes, and cigarettes mixed in with litter on the streets. When our streets are flooded with drug use products, it becomes very hard to define your own opinion on what is right based on what you see. Along with not really being able to form your own opinion, our youth are exposed to use, further impacting judgement.

Smok Billboard
Emma Smith

Smok billboard

A billboard that shows a sale on Muha’s. As Americans, we crave discounts because of our own consumerism culture. Sales are addictive and sometimes unescapable. For some who aren’t educated about the risks, this kind of marketing may work, which contributes to a culture of cannabis use in our community.

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