On Saturday, the NC Child Youth Advocacy Council convened in Wilmington for their final in-person meeting of the 2025-2026 term to present their policy proposal to a panel of non-profit leaders and elected officials on a tangible way to improve youth mental health for themselves…

and their peers across the state. Wilmington Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Spears (@martinluther_kongjr) was the keynote speaker, and the panelists reviewing the proposal consisted of State Representative Deb Butler (@deb_butlernc), who represents District 18 in the North Carolina House of Representatives, New Hanover County Commissioner Rob Zapple (@robzapple), Wilmington City Council Member Chakema Clinton-Quintana (@chakemaforilm), and NC Child Board Member Velva Jenkins. The Council's proposal centers on establishing school district-led peer support circles facilitated by trained high school students alongside trained adult advisors. The circle model is designed to provide students with a structured space to discuss everyday challenges, build healthy coping skills, and strengthen peer connections while maintaining clear escalation protocols for situations in which a student may be experiencing a mental health crisis or requires immediate intervention from qualified professionals. The event concluded with an awards ceremony after the presentation, highlighting the hard work and dedication of the Youth Advocacy Council.