Executive Director Bernadette Lauritzen of Champions of Youth Ambitions. Photo by Sandy Jones

By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN

Executive Director

Champions of Youth Ambitions

Champions of Youth Ambitions will soar into 2025 with a lofty goal. Last week, a gift from 100 Men Who Care launched a strategic plan to get life-saving suicide prevention information into the hands of more people than ever before. The class is designed not to make the listener a counselor, but to enable them to offer hope to someone struggling or aid them in finding help.

We will increase our outreach and presentations of free, one-hour classes of QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer). The class provides suggestions for self-care and offers many local and state resources that can provide a hand up. Often, as adults we overlook the everyday things we can do to be good for our own well-being and effortless ways to help our neighbors.

"Take A Second, Make A Difference," became our motto and we implemented several programs that have created ways to allow youth and adults to do charitable deeds for others. The Community Asset Awards is one way that you can take just a few minutes and highlight the excellent work of someone in the community, state or world that makes a difference in your eyes. I always say when you take that time, you never know if you have had an impact, but if you are lucky, it may come back to you.

We have been doing the Community Asset Awards for 15 years, even though we have only been an official non-profit for 10 years. I was inspired by a class offered by Leadership Los Alamos and a comment from a fellow classmate, former County Councilor Jim West. The idea took root and is one of the two most important things we do today.

One day at work in 2022 a former resident was home for the holidays. They took the time to visit me at work. What I thought was a kind gesture to come say hello became a powerful life moment for me. The person told me they were at one of the darkest moments and re-discovered their Community Asset Award. They realized if someone saw value in what they did enough to nominate them, they could be a little easier on themselves.

Last week, when I asked if I could share the story, they said, "I still keep the award on display as a reminder that I am still capable of making an impact."

Yes, they are capable, always have been and always will make an impact.

So, now that you know that do you have time to nominate someone? One day you might be lucky enough to hear that you took a second and made a difference, perhaps even saving a life.

Champions of Youth Ambitions is Back to Basics in 2025. Our origin story began with the Search Institute and the 40 Developmental Assets. One of our goals is to promote the work of SI and to educate the community that building relationships is key to youth success and to the adults that serve youth. See how we can help. www.cya-nm.us, www.search-institute.org.