Thank you to all who joined us for the 2026 Youth Health Summits! You made each day uniquely powerful, dynamic, affirming, and thought provoking for both young people and adults. We are so grateful.

The Next Generation Wellness Network (NextGen) hosted two Youth Health Summits this Spring to connect young people with vital health, wellness, and community resources.

The first summit was held on Chicago’s West Side at UCAN, followed by a second summit on the Southside at the Chicago Urban League’s Empowerment Center. Both events brought together youth, community organizations, and service providers dedicated to improving the health and well-being of young people in their communities.

The West Side Summit welcomed approximately 70 attendees. The West Side summit opened with UCAN’s Clinical Director Jasmine Johnson as the keynote speaker leading a mental health workshop, Color My Mood: How Color Shapes Mood, Identity and Daily Choices. This summit also included workshops from the following organizations: 

• Illinois Public Health Institute – Sharing Stories to Promote Connection and Healing Among Youth
• Lurie Children's – Comprehensive & Inclusive Youth Programs for Reproductive Health
• Lurie Children's – Firearm Safety: What you need to know
• UCAN – When Your Brain Gets Loud: Understanding Overstimulation & Finding What Helps You
• NAMI Chicago – Youth Mental Health
• Selah Freedom – Sex, Lies and Media 

The Southside Summit engaged over 55 participants. Jaylan Lyons from The Black Fire Brigade led the summit as keynote speaker inspiring youth to “Just Serve” their communities through passion, ambition, and hard work. The Southside summit included the following workshops: 

• NAMI Chicago – Seeing the Unseen: Teen Mental Health Red Flags
• B.O.S.S. Sistah Network – Is BAE Toxic or Nah? How to spot a healthy versus unhealthy relationship
• Illinois Public Health Institute – Sharing Stories to Promote Connection and Healing Among Youth
• Lurie Children's – Comprehensive & Inclusive Youth Programs for Reproductive Health
• Lurie Children's – Can you help me: Exploring mental health options for youth
• PHIMC – High Key Safe: A Harm Reduction Training

While substance use prevention was a key focus, the summits also highlighted resources for youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness, those impacted by domestic violence, and justice-involved youth. By bringing together organizations across multiple sectors, the events strengthened connections between young people and the services available to support them.

Throughout both summits, youth courageously shared personal testimonials about navigating mental health challenges, peer pressure, and other issues impacting their lives. Healing circles provide safe spaces for reflection, connection, and emotional support, allowing participants to engage in meaningful conversations about wellness and resilience. Combined, the two summits featured more than 22 community organizations serving as resource vendors, providing information and support on a wide range of issues affecting youth.

We were thrilled to offer a robust resource fair at each Summit, too, featuring:

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital
• Black Fire Brigade
• B.O.S.S. Sistah Network
• Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (COPA)
• Cook County Health - County Care
• La Rabida Children's Hospital
• Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
• Metropolitan Peace Initiatives
• Near North Health
• Northwestern University - Impact Institute
• Rebels for Peace
• TCA Health
• Teamwork Englewood
• UCAN
• Youth Care
  
  

We are delighted to report that the 2026 South and West Side Youth Health Summits demonstrated the power of collaboration in creating supportive environments where youth can access resources, share their experiences, and build healthier futures. Thank you to all who participated!

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Funding for this conference is provided in whole or in part through the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Block Grant and Healing Illinois, which is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services in partnership with The Field Foundation of Illinois.


Learn more here about PHIMC's Next Generation Wellness Network -- how it supports and connects young people and their allies in Chicago, between and beyond these public events.