The Endowment hosted the third workshop in a series designed to guide its youth development initiatives and ensure youth voices inform our work. Held on January 28, the Youth Leaders Engagement Session brought together New Hanover County youth ages 15–24 to share their experiences, perspectives, and ideas.
Led by Mary Vail Ware, Director of Social and Health Equity and Community Safety, alongside The Endowment’s Programs and Grants team, the session engaged students in a series of interactive activities designed to spark conversation and reflection. Youth shared feedback, including what defines success in their lives, the challenges they see around them, what helps them thrive, and the people and organizations that support them. They also spoke about barriers they face, where they turn for support, and what they wish adults and community leaders understood better.
Interim President and CEO Sophie Dagenais emphasized the importance of listening directly to young people, noting, “You know what it’s like to grow up here—to go to school, work, look for opportunities to be happy and comfortable, and imagine your future. If we want to build a community where everyone can succeed, we need to learn directly from you.”
We are grateful to the youth who shared their time, ideas, and voices during the session. We are also thankful to the youth-serving organizations that nominated youth leaders and took the time to coordinate and ensure their students were able to participate.
The session also included participation from the Weston & Sampson team, who gathered youth input to inform the Comprehensive Assessment of Recreational Opportunities in New Hanover County that is underway. Hearing firsthand where teens spend time and how they use parks and recreation facilities will help ensure future planning reflects the needs and experiences of young residents.
We are grateful to the University of North Carolina Wilmington for hosting the session. Universities play an important role in communities like ours, they are places where ideas grow, lifelong friendships form, and futures begin to take shape. We extend special thanks to Dr. Christine Reed Davis, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and her team for their warm welcome and for the work they do every day to support students as they explore and navigate college life at UNCW.
Whether participants are already enrolled in college, considering their options, or just beginning to imagine what comes next, the UNCW campus served as a reminder of opportunity, growth, and connection.
This is just the beginning! We look forward to hosting additional convenings with these youth leaders and others across New Hanover County. Their voices, insights, and experiences will continue to guide our work as we strive to build a community where every young person has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and succeed.
