Join us for the 2024 Spirit of Youth Awards!

March 25, 2024

Join us as we recognize the recipients of the 2023 Spirit of Youth Awards! In its 26th year, the recognition ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 13, 5:00pm at the Heritage Theatre at 49th State (717 W 3rd, Anchorage, Alaska). Tickets to the event are now available and can be purchased here.

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August 16, 2023

Spirit of Youth’s most recent annual report is now available. You can read about the organization’s accomplishments here.

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2022 Spirit of Youth Radio Stories Copy

December 13, 2022

Youth producers from the Alaska Teen Media Institute contacted awardees to record the 2022 Spirit of Youth Awards radio stories, featuring teens from across the state being honored for the good work they are doing in their communities. The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. Now in […]

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2022 Spirit of Youth Awards

May 10, 2022

The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska! The awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we held this year’s award ceremony on Zoom again. With award recipients from Anchorage to Cordova to Wrangell. 

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Announcing the Recipients of the 2022 Spirit of Youth Awards!

April 11, 2022

Congratulations to the 2022 Spirit of Youth awardees!   Hannah Yi and Sophie Mayers of Anchorage won the Lifesaver Award. They were instrumental at West High School in reviving the YANA club (You are Not Alone) after the pandemic and students returned to in-person learning. Once clubs restarted in the fall of 2021, Sophia and Hannah […]

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Suicide Prevention PSAs

January 28, 2022

Spirit of Youth’s Coalition is running youth developed public service announcements (PSAs), promoting use of the Careline, on popular format radio in Anchorage. These messages were crafted by local youth to share the significant protective role that supportive adults and community engagement play in youth mental health and the powerful negative impact bullying has on […]

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Youth Advocacy Grant

November 23, 2021

Spirit of Youth is offering one grant, of up to $17,000, for youth advocacy in Anchorage. The Youth Advocacy Grant is specifically intended to support youth-led projects that meet the following goals: Increase advocacy skills among Anchorage youth. Provide forums to discuss issues impacting the context / environment for youth in Anchorage. Explore factors that […]

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2021 Spirit of Youth Radio Stories

September 24, 2021

Youth producers from the Alaska Teen Media Institute contacted awardees for the annual Spirit of Youth awards radio stories, featuring teens from across the state being honored for the good work they are doing in their communities. The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. Now in its […]

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Spirit of Youth Summer 2021 Newsletter

August 30, 2021

In case you missed it, here is Spirit of Youth’s summer newsletter! You can always sign up to be added to our mailing list if you want to hear more good news about Alaska’s teens.    

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2021 Spirit of Youth Virtual Awards Ceremony

May 13, 2021

The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska! The awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s award ceremony was held virtually. With award recipients from Anchorage, Eagle River, Fairbanks, Homer, Ketchikan and Port Graham!

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2021 Spirit of Youth Award Recipients and Ceremony!

April 21, 2021

Spirit of Youth is excited to announce the 2021 Spirit of Youth Award Recipients! We thank you for your support of Spirit of Youth, and the work the organization does to celebrate young Alaskans. You can read more about this year’s recipients, who were selected by our Teen Advisory Council, at www.spiritofyouth.org. We hope that you can join the virtual award […]

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Spirit of Youth Anchorage Coalition Strategic Plan 2021

March 25, 2021

Spirit of Youth’s Anchorage Coalition is funded by a Division of Behavioral Comprehensive Behavioral Health Prevention and Early Intervention grant. The Coalition recently updated their strategic plan to reflect the needs reflected in the results of the Youth Needs, Your Voice survey conducted during the Covid-19 Pandemic. You can view the new plan here.

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2020 Youth Needs, Your Voice Survey Analysis

February 23, 2021

This report presents an analysis of the Youth Needs, Your Voice Survey data. The Youth Needs, Your Voice Survey was developed for the purpose of better understanding the mental health needs and resources available to youth and young adults in the Anchorage Municipality, especially in the face of concurrent social issues in 2020, such as the Covid-19 […]

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Announcing the Recipients of the Youth Connection and Engagement Grants!

December 16, 2020

Spirit of Youth provided several mini grants to a number of organizations. These grants were specifically intended to support youth and young adult-led projects in Anchorage. These efforts promote youth connectedness and engagement.  Learn more about some of the youth messaging projects below.   Girl Scouts of Alaska – Independent Virtual Girl Scout Group The Girl […]

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2020 Spirit of Youth Radio Stories

November 24, 2020

Youth producers from the Alaska Teen Media Institute contacted awardees for the annual Spirit of Youth awards radio stories, featuring teens from across the state being honored for the good work they are doing in their communities. The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. Now in its […]

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Youth Connection and Engagement Grants

October 9, 2020

Spirit of Youth is offering five grants of up to $4,500 to organizations in Anchorage to promote youth connection and engagement. Priority will be given to youth led initiatives within the 12-24 year old age range. The Youth Connection and Engagement Grants are specifically intended to support youth led projects that meet the following goals: […]

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Youth Needs, Your Action: Virtual Service Experiences Summit

September 3, 2020

YOUTH NEEDS, YOUR ACTION: Virtual Service Experiences Summit is a two-day event filled with virtual engagement opportunities. Youth and adults can participate in all the activities or just one or two. The event will kick off Friday 9/11/20 with evening entertainment focused on civic engagement which you will be able to enjoy from the comfort […]

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$1,500 grants for COVID-19 youth messaging-Deadline May 15

April 30, 2020

Spirit of Youth is offering fifteen $1,500 grants for COVID-19 messaging, specifically intended to support youth led projects for middle and high school students. These efforts support the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services #akyouthcombatcovid campaign and are made available through funding from the Alaska Division of Behavioral Health. Youth can create their own […]

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22nd Spirit of Youth Awards Cancelled

March 12, 2020

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the 22nd Spirit of Youth Awards have been cancelled. We would like to thank all the sponsors, nominees, and those who nominated a youth, for participating.    Congratulations to the 2020 honorees: Dreamer Derek Booth has learned how to produce professional looking traditional attire. He sews nightly with his grandma, spending time […]

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