SAY San Diego (Social Advocates for Youth)

Preparing for deployment? ✈️ The San Diego Military Family Collaborative's recent convening, "On The Move: Preparing for Deployment," tackled essential topics to help you navigate the journey! They delved into: The deployment cycle Care package ideas Strategies for mental health Tips for staying connected Guidance on reintegration How to discuss your deployment Resources for Parents Learn from experts at Military OneSource, the San Diego USO Airport Center, and the Fleet and Family Support Center! Don't miss the recording, PowerPoint, and essential tools like deployment checklists and Red Cross Messaging info! Please help us spread the word to support our military community! Access these crucial resources here: https://lnkd.in/g4j3B6Uw #saysandiego #DeploymentPrep #MilitaryResources #MilitaryFamilySupport

🏳️🌈 The journey is better together! Connect with a growing community of 2,400! "Queering Up Harm Reduction," the podcast from The Collective – a powerful LGBTQ+ coalition – is here for you. Last year, hosts Sunny (they/them) and Meesh (they/she) saw their engagement double, and this month, Meesh connects you with stories like Nico's (they/he). Hear their powerful conversation about finding community and freedom in sobriety. Nico recounts their journey from feeling afraid to showing up authentically and discovering a supportive queer and sober community in San Diego that truly saved their life. Discover how resources, stories, and connections that resonate make all the difference. Tune in to the podcast to join a thriving community: https://bit.ly/4cGnT9O

We were honored to welcome our new CEO, Louie Nguyen, CFA, at a special gathering hosted on April 10th by our board president at her beautiful home overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This inspiring evening brought together SAY San Diego partners and Louie's longtime colleagues to mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter. As Louie shared, our partners are essential to SAY San Diego's mission—especially now, as we work to meet the growing needs of vulnerable San Diegans. Together, we're stepping into this new season with hope, purpose, and deep gratitude. Learn more about our mission at saysandiego.org.

The impact is undeniable! ✨ SAY San Diego's Social Emotional Learning programs equip elementary and high school students with vital awareness, problem-solving, and coping skills. The results speak for themselves: ✅ 95% Improved understanding of how thoughts can change feelings, behaviors ✅ 92% Increased knowledge about what to do when angry, sad, or anxious  ✅ 80% Increased self-efficacy and self-determination Investing in SEL strengthens our youth for a brighter future! Learn more about our impactful work in our 2024 Annual Report! https://lnkd.in/gEKHmGNP #SELAwareness #YouthWellbeing #StudentSuccess #saysandiego

Flashback to the energy of our most recent Youth Summit: Teens in Action! Across two days, 26 student representatives from seven high schools participated in collaborative exercises focused on honing their advocacy, community engagement, and public speaking abilities. "I really enjoyed the summit and its environment of leadership and positivity," said one youth participant. The intensive program concluded with student-led strategies designed to inspire their peers and transform their school environments and the broader San Diego region through innovative messaging to prevent substance misuse. We're proud to empower these young agents of change! #YouthLeadership #TeenEmpowerment #CommunityAction #DrugPrevention #saysandiego

Looking back on the magic of March! 📚✨ From Sunset View Elementary's reading challenges, where kids earned prizes for their reading milestones, to our Preschool's Read Across America week filled with spirit days, we celebrated the joy of reading in many fun ways! We're committed to fostering a love of literacy in our youth, and March was a shining example of that commitment. Want to learn more about our programs that support kids and reading? Visit: https://lnkd.in/gsgtdJ6Y #LiteracyMatters #ReadAcrossAmerica #ChildrensReading #SAYSanDiego #CommunityReading

The power of youth to create positive change is truly inspiring! Earlier this year, our SAY San Diego Youth Unite chapter took a stand for healthy relationships, distributing student-designed resources at San Diego High School. This initiative, born from months of thoughtful discussion, demonstrates the power of peer-to-peer support. Their stickers and Valentine's Day cards included encouraging messages and vital local resource information. Their thoughtful messages and accessible support information resonate within the school's Wellness Center, fostering ongoing conversations about respect and well-being. This initiative reminds us that building healthy relationships is a year-round commitment, and we're proud to support our youth in leading the way!   #HealthyRelationships #YouthEmpowerment #CommunitySupport #saysandiego

As part of National Alcohol Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the incredible work our ATOD Prevention Team does year-round to promote healthy choices and prevent underage drinking in our community. Earlier this year, our team traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in CADCA’s National Leadership Forum, where they joined prevention leaders from across the country to discuss strategies for reducing youth alcohol use. This experience strengthens our efforts here in San Diego, equipping us with new tools and insights to continue making a difference. Our prevention programs focus on: ✅ Educating youth and families about the risks of underage drinking ✅ Advocating for policies that create healthier communities ✅ Partnering with schools and local organizations to support prevention initiatives Together, we can create a future where every young person has the support they need to make healthy choices! 

Lasting change starts with the community. This year, we brought together over 100 local residents and a diverse group of partners—connecting them with government officials, policymakers, scientists, and institutional agencies to drive change from the ground up. By engaging those with lived experience, we focused on research, priority setting, and policy recommendations that are truly representative of the community’s needs. The result? The First Annual “Tobacco and the Environment” Symposium, where this collaborative network began laying the foundation for cleaner, healthier environments. This is just the beginning of our journey to reduce the disproportionate impacts of tobacco on vulnerable communities. Huge thanks to our key partners and funders, SDSU Research Foundation and the Center for Tobacco and the Environment, for their support. Together, we are creating healthier, more sustainable communities. Explore the full 2024 Annual Report on our website. https://lnkd.in/gEKHmGNP 

Meaningful work and fun go hand in hand! So far this year, we’ve had many exciting moments—welcoming our new CEO Louie Nguyen, teaming up with Kendra Scott for our annual giveback event, enjoying plenty of playful moments at MFRC playgroups, and more! Here’s to more joy, connection, and impact all year long!