I’m Jenna, I’m 22-years-old, and I grew up in Timberlea, Nova Scotia. I’m also a proud graduate of Bay View High School, Class of 2022. Today, I’m incredibly proud to be serving as the Youth Leadership Coordinator for the Atlantic Summer Institute for Healthy & Safe Communities (ASI).
ASI is a bilingual, not-profit organization that has been bringing people together from across Atlantic Canada since 2003 to create healthier, safer, and inclusive communities. Over the past decade, ASI has placed a major focus on promoting infant, child, and youth mental health by addressing the root causes of challenges before they become crises. It’s about building communities where young people can truly thrive. One of the biggest parts of my role is coordinating our Youth Leadership Program (YLP), and I couldn’t be more excited.
This August, we will be welcoming 20 incredible young leaders from across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador to Charlottetown, PEI, for the Atlantic Summer Institute Youth Leadership Program, taking place August 17th to 20th, 2026. What makes this program so special is that youth are not simply invited to attend; they are trusted as leaders.
Youth delegates will participate in a dedicated Youth Leadership Workshop while also joining the broader ASI community for keynote presentations, workshops, roundtable discussions, learning circles, and networking opportunities. They will explore Indigenous worldviews, including the Seven Generations Principle; learn about upstream approaches to mental health promotion; build leadership skills and connect with inspiring people from across the region; and take part in arts, culture, nature-based learning, and community-building activities.
You never know where one opportunity, one conversation, or one “yes” might lead. For me, it led from being a participant, to becoming a volunteer, to now proudly serving on staff and helping welcome the next generation of changemakers. That’s something I will always be grateful for.
I can’t wait to welcome this year’s 20 amazing youth leaders to PEI this August. Here’s to new friendships, big ideas, meaningful conversations, and a week that I know will leave all of us inspired.