Tyler Morton is always trying to recruit more young people to join Barton County Youth Crew because he has seen first-hand the many positive results of the group’s community and school projects.
In his role as prevention advocate at Juvenile Services, Morton recently took his recruitment efforts up a notch by contacting a past and a current member of Youth Crew to share their experiences.
“Jasmine Figueroa and Mya Brewer are just two of many examples of the value of Youth Crew,” Morton said. “We provide guidance but this is a youth-led group; they are in charge. They come up with ideas and implement them in their schools and communities.
“They learn about being a leader, working as a team and finding new ways to prevent the misuse of alcohol, drugs and tobacco. We have something for everyone.”
Jasmine Figueroa
Jasmine Figueroa joined Youth Crew in 2021 at the beginning of her freshman year at Great Bend High School because of its emphasis on leadership and fostering community change.
“I have always been interested in volunteering and getting involved; Youth Crew felt like the perfect opportunity,” Figueroa said. “We took a deep dive into substance misuse and strategic prevention frameworks for our county. And from there, everything really took off.”
Today, Figueroa is a 19-year-old freshman at Pittsburg State University where she is majoring in human resource development (HRD), with minors in biology and public health.
Her goal is to earn an HRD degree, and a master’s and doctorate in healthcare administration. “I value training and developing people in ways that strengthen not only organizations but also the communities they serve.”
As she recalls the early days of high school, Figueroa said that “without a doubt, joining Youth Crew was one of the best opportunities I have ever taken. I developed strong leadership skills and learned how to effectively communicate with legislators, work with data and help create meaningful community plans.
“I was given the opportunity to experience incredible moments such as speaking as a keynoter in Washington, D.C., traveling to multiple training conferences, and serving on state and national committees.”
However, she added, the most important aspect of Youth Crew was the changes she witnessed in Great Bend.
“I have seen more youth become actively invested in the well-being of their schools and peers,” she explained. “I am forever grateful to the entire Youth Crew organization for the role it has played in shaping my life.”
Mya Brewer
Mya Brewer’s reasons for joining Youth Crew vary from Figueroa’s but they help illustrate the range of opportunities it provides.
Brewer is a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Hoisington Middle School who became a Youth Crew member in 2023.
“I joined Youth Crew because I grew up with addiction and recovery in my family,” Brewer said. “When I heard about Youth Crew, I knew it would be a good way to bring awareness to youth and prevent kids from falling into the same patterns their families have.
“I am glad I joined because I have always wanted to make a positive impact in the world. Youth Crew is a perfect way to do that. I highly encourage my peers to join Youth Crew and get involved in our community.”
After high school, Brewer plans to further her education at cosmetology school. “I want to earn my license and be a professional cosmetologist.”
More information
Some examples of Youth Crew’s local projects are the Kickball Tournament; Lei Off Tobacco; Egg-a-Palooza; hosting a Youth Leaders in Kansas conference in Hoisington; and raising awareness at exhibit booths at a number of community events.
Members also have traveled to state and national conferences.
Youth Crew now has 35 members and Tyler Morton and his colleagues are shooting for at least 50. Anyone in grades 6-12 is welcome.
“If you want to bring about change, do something special and offer new ideas for local projects, Youth Crew can accommodate,” Morton commented. “This is a great group for school and civic engagement.
“Young people can demonstrate they care about their communities and discover what it takes to be a leader. This has to start somewhere and Youth Crew is a great somewhere.”
For more information, contact Morton by calling 620-786-4033 or 620-793-1930.
20th Judicial District Juvenile Services empowers youth in Barton, Rice, Ellsworth, Stafford and Russell counties to achieve positive outcomes by offering Juvenile Intake & Assessment, Immediate Intervention, Intensive Supervised Probation, Case Management, Journey to Change, Life Skills, All Stars and Youth Crew. Parents and guardians also are offered The Parent Project. Visit 1800 12th in Great Bend or call 620-793-1930.
