How Virginia Teens Are Partnering with Leaders to Build Healthier Communities

Across Virginia, a new generation of leaders is shaping healthier schools and communities throughY Street, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth's teen volunteer initiative. Now expanding to new schools statewide, the program offers lessons in how to keep young people genuinely engaged in civic action and public health.

At William Fleming High School in Roanoke, Leadership Starts at Lunch

On a bright fall afternoon in Roanoke, students stream past a colorful table draped with Y Street banners. Anissa, a junior, and her classmates offer fruit-infused water samples and quick surveys. The topic? Healthier hydration and smoke-free outdoor spaces.

"Y Street has really helped me become a public speaker," she says. "When I was in ninth grade, I wanted to join something that would help me grow — and this did that. It's advocacy, but it's also fun."

Scenes like this are unfolding in more schools than ever. This year, Y Street is expanding its footprint, bringing youth-driven public-health campaigns to new communities across the Commonwealth.

What Is Y Street?

Founded in 2004 by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY),Y Streetis an award-winning youth leadership program that empowers high school students to design and lead campaigns on real public health issues — from improving access to clean drinking water to reducing tobacco and vape use in public spaces.

Through Y Street, students don't just learn about civic engagement — they practice it. Teens meet directly with school administrators, community leaders, and local lawmakers to share survey data, present policy recommendations, and advocate for changes in their own schools and neighborhoods. Along the way, they earn community service hours, awards, and even scholarships while gaining valuable leadership and communication skills.

Each year, Y Street members come together for two statewide Y Street Summits — immersive training weekends where students build skills in public speaking and leadership skills. Many also represent their schools at state and national conferences or duringVFHY's Healthy Youth Dayin Richmond, where they brief legislators on youth-led health initiatives.

And their work delivers results. Y Street members have helped update school wellness policies, expand access to water in Virginia schools, and support cities and counties in adopting smoke-free outdoor spaces. Since its launch, more than 10,000 Virginia teens have taken part, shaping healthier communities across the Commonwealth.

"Y Street isn't your typical school club," explains Tabatha Magobet, Y Street program supervisor. "We partner with existing clubs or teachers at high schools, but Y Street remains its own entity. Advisors act as a bridge, and students decide how involved they want to be. There are no strings attached — just opportunities."

VFHY manages Y Street in partnership withRescue Agency, a national public health and marketing organization that implements VFHY's youth engagement initiatives across Virginia. Rescue specializes in behavior-change campaigns that promote healthy lifestyles, particularly among young people. Within Rescue's Youth Engagement and Policy team, Magobet leads the statewide staff who recruit partner schools, train student leaders, and support Y Street's campaigns.

A Model That Keeps Teens Coming Back

Flexibility is a cornerstone of the program's success.

"Students can get as involved as they like. The more they participate, the more points they earn that they can redeem for fun items or scholarship funds," Magobet explains. "Schools also receive milestone payments when their students meet campaign goals. It's a win-win."

What keeps teens returning year after year isn't just the incentives — it's the design. Students see clear paths to grow from member to executive board. They witness tangible results when policies shift because of their work. And, maybe most importantly, they're trusted. Advisors step back and let students lead, turning small wins into lifelong confidence.

"There's no perfect plan or strategy," she adds. "The key is staying nimble — listening to youth, adapting, and giving them a true seat at the table."

Youth Leading the Way to Meaningful Change

At Granby High School in Norfolk, 16-year-old Christine recalls how Y Street transformed her confidence.

"I was really shy as a freshman," she says. "Now I do public speaking presentations. If you told me in middle school that I'd be doing that, I'd have said no way."

Both Christine and Anissa now serve on Y Street's executive board, mentoring their peers and leading campaigns such as Rev Your Bev (which promotes water access and hydration) and Share the Air (which supports 100% tobacco- and e-cigarette-free outdoor spaces).

Y Street members have collected more than 11,000 community surveys statewide for Share the Air since 2019. Their efforts have helped Virginia communities and school divisions update wellness policies, establish tobacco-free outdoor spaces, and improve hydration infrastructure.

"It's one thing to talk about helping your community — it's another to meet with decision-makers and actually see a policy change happen," says Christine. "That's when you realize your voice matters."

Expanding Across the Commonwealth

After maintaining 24 partner schools for several years, Y Street set an ambitious goal of 32 schools this academic year, with a focus on reaching more communities in southwest Virginia.

"Historically, we've had fewer schools in that region," Magobet says. "So, we're making phone calls, sending brochures, meeting principals and teachers face-to-face — really going the extra mile. Just [recently], we welcomed three new southwest schools."

For participating schools, Y Street brings energy, resources, and leadership development opportunities that complement classroom learning. For educators, it's a ready-made, proven engagement tool that teaches civic participation while improving school wellness.

Why Y Street Works — Lessons for Other Programs

Y Street offers a proven roadmap for sustained engagement:

• Authentic voice:Youth lead decisions and outreach. Adults don't speak for them.

• Visible outcomes:Teens see concrete change in their communities.

• Layered mentorship:Peer-to-peer leadership keeps participants returning.

• Recognition and reward:Incentives celebrate progress.

• Adaptability:Programs evolve with each new student generation.

"The youth feel like this is a partnership," Magobet says. "They're not photo-ops — they're collaborators."

Looking Ahead

Y Street's leadership team is meeting for their winter statewide summit in February — filled with interactive activities and skill-building sessions.

"The energy is incredible," Magobet says. "Everyone takes pride in the work they do."

As Y Street continues to grow, its reach and its lessons extend far beyond the school grounds. For educators, school administrators, and community partners, it's a reminder that when you trust young people with real responsibility, they deliver.

"Being part of Y Street showed me I could be a leader," says Anissa. "At first, I didn't think I was that person, but helping others speak up made me realize I was."