Helping Youth Pursue Excellence (H.Y.P.E) is a Youth Coalition and Mobile Skills Academy for youth in grades 6-12 (formerly Youth Leadership St. Lucie). We mirror the work and mission of the Roundtable of St. Lucie County and act as the “youth arm” of the Drug Free St. Lucie Coalition. We engage youth in community problem-solving through our 4 Core Values and the Strategic Prevention Framework.
Operating under the premise of “youth-led, adult-guided”, H.Y.P.E provides teens a forum to discuss and creatively address issues they have identified in the community. As the youth develop strategies to express their views and advocate for change, they are accompanied by adult advisors and community leaders who support and guide them with their expertise.
When youth join our coalition, they gain the ability to act as agents for change, earn community service hours, earn opportunities for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, as well as life skills that serve them now and in the future.
If you or a student you know in grades 6-12 would like to join this incredible team of young leaders, please contact our youth advisor below for more information about H.Y.P.E enrollment.
H.Y.P.E Youth Advisor:
Amanda DeMan: ADeman@RoundtableSLC.org or (772)871-5880
Photo Voice
One of the amazing projects H.Y.P.E youth have worked on is “Photo Voice”. Our youth use this community-based participatory action research method to address issues they identify in their communities. Through their personal and peer lenses, the youth take photos that they feel best illustrate their concerns and write powerful captions to accentuate and expand upon the message captured through their photos.