Youth Are Rewriting the Script.
Mind(fulness) Over Matter
Our youth ambassadors are advancing mental health awareness and support through honesty, courage, and creativity.
These short films highlight what becomes possible when young leaders are trained to merge science, data, and storytelling—creating solutions that deliver impact directly to the communities that need it most.
"Check In. Check Out."
As COVID-19 coverage gave way to other crises and national priorities shifted toward youth well-being, Wake County ambassadors created Check In, Check Out. The film centers emotional wellness and peer connection, bringing forward the often unspoken fears young people carry day to day.
"W.A.I.T., Haven't You Heard?"
Set in a classroom and styled like a ’90s sitcom, the film blends humor, heart, and critical thinking to spotlight the weight of stress and the spread of misinformation — proof that young people have the tools to normalize and advance conversations about mental health through storytelling.
Reimagining Health Literacy: Youth-Driven, Youth Led
The film collection below highlights the results of our pilot phase, where 20 youth ages 10–18 transformed how prevention messages could be imagined and delivered for a new generation of health communication. Over six months, ambassadors completed our foundational curriculum, gaining the tools to create and share prevention messages that were meaningful, actionable, and community-driven. Their inaugural multimedia campaign reached more than 272,733 North Carolinians — a powerful demonstration of what youth can achieve when trusted and equipped to lead.