Influence The Choice

Action Forum for Youth is TOMORROW MORNING!🚨

There’s still time to register for Action Forum for Youth - a free community conversation about youth substance use trends and youth wellbeing in our community.

Join us to:
- Hear newly released 2025 Issaquah School District Healthy Youth Survey data
- Hear honest perspectives from local students
- Be a part of the conversation about how families, schools, and our community can support young people

EVENT DETAILS:
Wednesday, September 16th
7:30–9:15 AM
Blakely Hall (2550 NE Park Dr, Issaquah)

Reserve your seat today and join us tomorrow morning!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/town-hall-action-forum-for-youth-tickets-1997878093158

📣 Action Forum for Youth is ONE WEEK AWAY!

Join us next Wednesday, September 16th, at Blakely Hall in Issaquah Highlands for an important and engaging conversation about youth substance use, wellbeing, and how we can support young people in our community.

Take a little time out of your morning and join us for:

• Opening remarks from King County Councilmember Sarah Perry
• New 2025 Healthy Youth Survey data presented by ITC’s new Executive Director, Erica Vogt
• A student panel featuring young people sharing their honest perspectives and experiences
• Free coffee and refreshments! ☕😊

This is a great opportunity to learn about the latest HYS data and hear directly from students about what they’re seeing and experiencing.

We’d love to have you join us! Learn more and register here:

Town Hall: Action Forum for Youth Join Influence the Choice for current youth substance use data and to hear directly from local students about their experiences.

We’re excited to announce that Councilmember Sarah Perry will be joining us for Action Forum for Youth and delivering opening remarks! 🎉

Join us for a conversation featuring newly released 2025 Healthy Youth Survey data from the Issaquah School District and a student panel sharing local youth perspectives.

This town hall event is FREE and open to the community! Coffee and light refreshments provided.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/town-hall-action-forum-for-youth-tickets-1997878093158

SAVE THE DATE! Action Forum for Youth is on Wednesday, Sept. 16!

Join us to learn, connect, and hear directly from young people about the issues impacting youth in our community.

We’ll share the latest results from the 2025 Healthy Youth Survey, explore current trends in youth substance use, and hear from a panel of local students about their experiences and perspectives.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
8–9:15 AM
Blakely Hall | Issaquah Highlands

Coffee and light refreshments will be provided!

Registration is now open. Save your spot and join us for this important community conversation! Learn more and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/town-hall-action-forum-for-youth-tickets-1997878093158?aff=oddtdtcreator

Come find us at the Back to School Resource Fair happening TODAY from 11AM to 6PM at Clark Elementary School!

Not only can you spin the wheel at our table for a chance to win some goodies, but you can also connect with community organizations and find essential resources for students and families! All ISD students and families are welcome! 👏

Yesterday, Erica Vogt, Executive Director of Influence the Choice, collaborated with The Circle WA to provide a Spanish-language workshop on opioid overdose prevention and naloxone (Narcan) administration for Spanish-speaking community members in Issaquah. The Circle is a wonderful local organization that supports immigrant and refugee families through education, resource navigation, and community connections.

Participants received free naloxone kits and learned how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose.

A special thank you to The Circle for hosting this workshop, and thank you to everyone who joined us for this important conversation! We're grateful for the opportunity to provide accessible prevention education and to partner with organizations that help ensure life-saving information reaches everyone in our community. 💙

From our community to the national stage! 👏

We're incredibly proud of TECH Youth Coalition member and LakeSafe Initiative - Every Lake, Every Life founder Mudra Machewad for sharing her youth-led prevention work as a featured panelist during a national CADCA webinar.

We're so excited to see youth leadership making an impact far beyond our community. Read the full story in our latest blog post! https://www.influencethechoice.org/itc-blog/from-our-community-to-the-national-stagethe-lakesafe-initiative-and-the-power-of-youth-led-prevention

ITC had a wonderful time at the Sammamish Farmers Market's Nonprofit Day on Wednesday! Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table to spin the wheel, test their knowledge with some substance use trivia, and learn more about youth prevention in our community. 🤓

If you missed us last week, no worries! Influence the Choice will be back at the Sammamish Farmers Market on Wednesday, August 5th. We'd love to see you there!

Pictured are Erica Vogt, ITC Executive Director, and Divisha Arora, a Skyline High School student, member of ITC's youth coalition TECH, and founder of Know Your Ride, a youth-led initiative focused on e-bike safety. Divisha also recently wrote a blog article about youth mental health and social isolation that is now published on our website. Check it out here: https://www.influencethechoice.org/itc-blog/the-loneliest-place-isnt-being-alone-its-pretending-youre-fine

ITC Announces new Executive Director!

The Board of Directors of Influence the Choice is pleased to announce the appointment of Erica Vogt as our new Executive Director.

Read the full announcement here:https://www.influencethechoice.org/uploads/1/2/6/8/126895988/executive_director_announcement.pdf

Erica joined Influence the Choice as Program Coordinator and quickly became an integral part of the organization, helping strengthen our programs, community partnerships, events, and outreach efforts. Through her dedication and commitment to our mission, she has consistently demonstrated a deep investment in the youth, families, and communities we support.

The Board has full confidence in Erica’s ability to lead the organization forward and is excited about the vision, energy, and stability she brings to this role. We are excited about this next chapter and look forward to the continued growth and impact of Influence the Choice under her leadership. Please join us in congratulating Erica!

Thank you,
Brooke Drennon
Board Chair, Influence the Choice