“Youth are not problems for communities to solve; youth wish to help solve problems.”
A 2026 Healthy Archuleta youth intern shared these powerful words, which are now central to this year’s Youth Leadership and Community Engagement Internship.
This summer, five local youth interns have been proving that when young people are given the opportunity to lead, they show up with compassion, creativity, integrity and a genuine desire to make their community a better place.
Rather than simply learning about the issues in their community, these interns have been stepping into the community and becoming part of the solution.
The summer started with one simple goal for the youth: give back. It’s something our interns have taken incredibly seriously.
In just the first few weeks, they have already positively impacted the community in many ways. They planned and hosted peer events, including social connections like the Kickback at the Park. They supported the Pagosa Springs Community Garden by planting seeds and learning how local gardens can support local food access. They helped local families by collecting donations for the Archuleta Food Pantry Network during the quarterly food drive.
The internship has not only inspired interns to drive real change in their community, but also introduced the group to the bigger picture of community health and resilience through discussions and hands-on experiences — for instance, harvesting hydroponically grown lettuce while learning about innovative ways to grow healthy, fresh food locally and visiting with community partners to learn about community assets, barriers to health, local food systems and the challenges many residents face. Driven by a desire to make a real impact and to drive the change they want to see in a community, these interns prove that youth voices matter.
Beyond community service, the interns have taken on the challenge of creating spaces where young people can connect, have fun and feel like they belong. By planning events open to all youth, providing healthy food, engaging activities and a welcoming community, the goal is more than just entertainment; it’s an opportunity to build friendships, encourage leadership and remind youth that their voices matter.
What has made this internship so unique and special isn’t the projects the youth have completed, but the mindset they are developing along the way.
They are learning that making meaningful change does not always consist of a big budget and perfect planning. Sometimes, meaningful change simply starts with a few young people who care enough to get involved.
If the start of summer is any indication, these interns are doing much more than completing an internship. They’re demonstrating that youth aren’t problems to be solved; they’re valuable partners in solving the challenges their community faces.
To learn more about the efforts of Healthy Archuleta, visit our website at www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org or email us at fsfearchuleta@gmail.com.
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