Once a school is accepted into the Y Street Partner Program, students are trained on Y Street’s campaigns to promote a healthier Virginia. After the training, Y Street members, also known as Y-Sters, work directly with staff to plan and lead their own projects and events to drive change in their community. Here’s how it works:

Y Street Trainings

To become members, youth learn about Y Street’s current campaigns and how to be effective and impactful in growing support and action, through interactive training at their school.
  • Y Street Trainings

    Ready to think? Y Street trainings engage youth in thought-provoking conversations.

  • Y Street Trainings

    Students enjoying a Y Street training during their regular school day.

  • Y Street Trainings

    Youth getting trained and ready to hit the streets with the year’s campaigns.

  • Y Street Trainings

    Just some of the hundreds of new VA youth that get active with Y Street every year.

Projects & Events

After completing their training, Y-Sters lead projects and events in their schools and communities to promote and raise awareness on Y Street’s campaign efforts.
  • Y Street Projects and Events

    What’s your opinion? Y Street youth out surveying about the tobacco-free policy at their school.

  • Y Street Projects and Events

    Youth in action. These members are engaging their community about supporting daily PE programs in schools.

  • Y Street Projects and Events

    Check out these Y Street members at the Richmond Squirrels Education Day engaging people about why they should drink healthy beverages.

  • Y Street Projects and Events

    Y Street youth love Homecoming. It’s a perfect place to show school spirit and support tobacco-free schools.

Conferences & Presentations

Y Street youth leaders participate in state and regional conferences to present information on the Y Street movement, share their personal stories and expertise, and exchange ideas with health professionals, advocates, and community leaders.
  • Y Street Conferences and Presentations

    Y Street members step up to present findings at the Reduce Tobacco Use Conference in VA.

  • Y Street Conferences and Presentations

    Y Street youth share their work at conferences nationwide, including the National Conference on Childhood Obesity in California.

  • Y Street Conferences and Presentations

    Y Street youth presenting with First Lady of Virginia, Dorothy McAuliffe, at the Weight of the State Conference.

  • Y Street Conferences and Presentations

    Time to get on the mic. Here’s Y Street presenting info about the (dis)tasteful Campaign at the 11th Reduce Tobacco Use Conference.

Meetings with Key Decision Makers

Y Street Leadership Team members meet with school boards, city councils, and other local and state government officials to share information about Y Street and our campaign efforts to garner support and action.
  • Meetings with Key Decision Makers

    The Y Street Leadership Team visiting First Lady of Virginia, Dorothy McAuliffe, at the Governor’s Mansion in Richmond.

  • Meetings with Key Decision Makers

    Y-Ster Brynna poses with Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax and First Lady Pamela Northam to celebrate the passage of the Comprehensive Tobacco-Free School state law.

  • Meetings with Key Decision Makers

    Y Street youth collected and reported feedback from over 2,000 Virginians about supporting graphic warning labels on tobacco products. It paid off with a trip to the White House’s press conference announcing its support of the labels and the work of Y Street.

  • Meetings with Key Decision Makers

    Y Street earned the right to speak to members of the House and Senate on Healthy Youth Day about their positive work in the community.

Statewide Days of Action

Y Street sponsors statewide days of action, to provide opportunities for youth, volunteers and advocates around Virginia to be part of solutions to building a healthier state. In the past, Y Street’s Days of Action have included Tobacco-Free Spirit Day and Rev Your Bev Day.
  • Statewide Days of Action

    Tobacco-Free Spirit Day encourages schools to have 100% tobacco-free policies.

  • Statewide Days of Action

    Here’s Virginia’s Lt. Governor supporting Y Street during a press conference on Tobacco-Free Spirit Day.

  • Statewide Days of Action

    Tobacco-Free Spirit Day 2019! Youth from across Virginia sent Valentines to their school board, thanking them for making their schools 100% tobacco- and e-cigarette- free.

  • Statewide Days of Action

    Time to Rev Your Bev. Y Street hosts events across Virginia on Rev Your Bev Day to educate their community about the health effects of sugary drinks.

Y Street Leadership Team (YSLT)

Each year, a group of dedicated youth is selected for the YSLT to be the leaders in their schools and communities, mobilizing youth and leading higher-level engagement opportunities.
  • Y Street Leadership Team

    As YSLT learn leadership skills and campaign information, they grow strong bonds!

  • Y Street Leadership Team

    The YLST show youth the value they possess as a significant resource to community change.

  • Y Street Leadership Team

    At the annual Y Street Summit, YSLT brush up on their networking skills and engage with Virginia community leaders.

  • Y Street Leadership Team

    Good times all-around at the YSTL summit. Youth get the opportunity to connect with Y Street members from across the state.