Annual Youth in Action ‘Make a Difference’ conference takes place at the DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — Youth in Action, a St. Louis County program, held its annual ‘Make a Difference’ conference at the DECC on Monday.

The conference features student-led workshops on various topics, including mental health, empathy and leadership.

Youth in Action brings students together from 17 schools in St. Louis County, with a goal of making a difference in schools and communities.

The annual conference has been taking place for around three decades, with over 300 students attending this years event.

The conference also allows students to meet and engage with other program members from across the county.

“This day is about the kids, it’s for the kids, and that energy is palpable. So as they’re coming in here, they’re seeing their friends, they’re seeing their classmates, they’re seeing friends from other schools. I think that excitement just kind of builds. We had a lot of young people put many hours of time into planning their workshops,” Dana Grozdanich, Youth, Cultural & Arts Engagement Coordinator for St. Louis County said.

Youth in Action has opportunities for students in grades 7 through 12 on the Iron Range, and 9 through 12 in Duluth.