Buffalo County Community Partners, Courtesy
KEARNEY — Local youth have organized an event to inspire their peers to be the change they want to see in their communities. The Power of Change Youth Summit will be held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, on the University of Nebraska Kearney campus.
Returning for its third year, Power of Change is an event for high school students, by high school students, with every breakout and resource booth being hand-selected by Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board to address topics that are interesting to them: mental wellness and resiliency, changing stigma and school culture, avoiding burnout, and overdose/vaping prevention.
“I’m passionate about providing a place where students feel they belong. If we want our youth to thrive, we must give them space to learn together, build together, and trust each other and their community. This youth-led event allows youth to connect with peers and discuss topics they are interested in,” said Ellery Butterfield, Program Manager at Buffalo County Community Partners.
This event will feature a keynote by #1 Nationally Ranked Campus Speaker, Jason LeVasseur! Jason has shared the stage with Maroon 5, Ludacris, The Dave Matthews Band, and many other famous artists. His message will focus on how youth can use their unique talents to create change and become leaders in their schools.
Students will walk away with prizes, resources for themselves and their school, a pizza lunch, a fun experience at the UNK campus, featuring a UNK Admissions booth during Homecoming Week, and skills and knowledge to empower them to be the change they want to see in their community.
The Power of Change Youth Summit is presented by Buffalo County Community Partners, Crane River Theater, Region 3 Behavioral Health Services, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney. It is open to all high school students, including those from public, private, and home-schooled schools. To learn more, visit www.cranerivertheater.org/power-of-change.
Buffalo County Community Partners is a nonprofit organization that identifies concerns impacting the well-being of area residents, addresses these concerns by collecting and evaluating data, and facilitates conversations among experts and affected parties. They are uniquely positioned to do this work because they invest time in building connections and increasing access to the necessary resources and experiences that lead to effective solutions. Find more at www.bcchp.org or contact us at (308) 865-2284 or info@bcchp.org.
