Youth Group Spotlight: PEAK Initiative

PEAK’s mission is to bring out the limitless potential in young leaders through extraordinary experiences and relationships. Three such young leaders – Amaiaca Wright, Nalyla Sarabia-Childs and Breonna LeFlore – were on hand during the September 28 Coalition meeting to talk about their formative experiences with PEAK and the skills they’ve learned along the way.

Breonna started coming to PEAK in first grade. For her, it’s been all about the relationships – both with her peers and the adults who actually took the time to get to know her. PEAK allowed her to feel heard and seen for who she was, and even granted her the opportunity to lead a workshop with fellow youth where she could help them feel heard in return.

“The purpose of being a part of [PEAK’s] Leadership Training Program is basically just to give teens a space to connect and understand more about day-to-day life and being a leader,” explained Nalyla.

For Nalyla, PEAK has been a place that feels like home, where everyone is family. Her time as a media intern, program assistant, and coordinator for the Speak on It podcast have shown her how to lead activities, work with others, and create safe spaces where youth can talk openly about their lives.

Amaiaca’s time with PEAK has been similarly rewarding. Her internships have taught her everything from branding and public speaking to how to lead social events and work with kids.

“I come back to PEAK because it is an outlet to keep busy and to grow as a leader in training,” she says.

Couldn’t make the Coalition meeting? No worries! Catch up on the action here.