.png)
Youth Empowerment Radio
This podcast was created by young people as a project of Youth MOVE Colorado, a youth-led organization. This is meant to serve as a fun, educational, and community-building resource for youth with lived experience. We will be having organic conversations about everything from making friends to advocating for change, and interviewing other changemakers along the way!
Youth Empowerment Radio
Season 2 Pre-View: Ellis of Oak Tree Resources
🎙️ Hey everyone! Welcome back to Youth M.O.V.E. Colorado! Today, we're giving you a sneak peek into Season 2 of Youth Empowerment Radio—formerly known as Next Gen Combos!
👤 Meet Ellis! She’s the Drop-In Center Coordinator at Oak Tree Youth Resources in Durango, Colorado. Oak Tree is a space where youth come with diverse needs—everything from independent living support to mental health resources. Alice and her team are there to meet these young people exactly where they are.
💬 Powerful Story Alert! Alice shares an inspiring story about a young man, just 24, who's had a lifetime of experiences—he’s moved across states, faced constant instability, and has been let down by adults and systems. When he first came in, Alice sat with him for two hours as he opened up about his journey, his struggles, and his dreams. She was struck by his openness and his deep insights into trauma, human behavior, and his own life—one of the most intelligent people she's ever met.
📚 Despite facing so much, he never finished high school. His teenage years were marked by instability and institutionalization, and he missed out on that diploma. But here’s the thing: he carries immense intelligence and resilience that often goes unrecognized by society. Ellis’s big takeaway? To see and reflect back to these youth what they carry—especially the ones who've endured so much in so few years.
🙏 A Unique Approach: Ellis gives him space to lead his path, while gently encouraging him to explore new avenues. She’s connected him to a local Dharma center where he can meditate and find community. They’re slowly talking about school, but on his terms, respecting his pace and comfort levels.
✨ It's all about keeping it youth-led and youth-driven! Ellis shares that it can be tempting to push support and services right away, but it's essential to let the youth guide the process. She's there as a constant presence—a reminder of his strengths and his long-term dreams. Bit by bit, they’re working toward those goals together, with him leading the way.
🔥 So if this resonates with you, stay tuned! Season 2 of Youth Empowerment Radio is all about these real, impactful stories. See you there!