During the first week of March, Wheeling and Buffalo Grove students traveled to the Illinois State
Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois, joined by the Stevenson High School Catalyst, to advocate for
substance and drug prevention.
SPRINGFIELD, Mar. 4th & 5th | Entering the first representative’s office of the day in the
Stratton Building, 104th district’s representative Brandun Schweizer, I didn’t know what to
expect. However, after 7 meetings with Illinois senators, representatives, and assistants,
one meeting taking place inside the Capitol building, I recall feeling accomplished,
educated about my state’s legislative process, and more confident about my public speaking
skills.
Community Youth Services Youth Committee, or CYSYC, is an organization funded and
created by a grant through the Illinois Department of Human Services, dedicated to
violence and delinquency prevention in youth in the district 214 area. The group meets
every month to discuss topics like mental health, plan service events, develop life skills, and
participate in leadership activities. Most recently, the group took advantage of the
opportunity to travel to Springfield for an overnight trip.
“The good part of going to Springfield was meeting the representatives and the senators,”
Samantha Simon, a Wheeling High School student and active member in CYSYC, shares her
takeaways from the experience. “I think it was beneficial to me because as a law student, it
really got me to connect to people who could help me in the near future.”
The group advocated for more action in substance and drug prevention in Wheeling,
Buffalo Grove, and the surrounding communities. Preventing youth vaping, youth access by
restricting unregulated cannabis derivative sales, and protecting youth mental health were
some points of discussion, along with education about the harmful impact these topics
have on the youth in local communities.
The Illinois Prevention Network, IPN, is a collaboration of coalitions and organizations
working to create and maintain safe, healthy, and drug-free communities in Illinois. IPN
was able to bring CYSYC together with Stevenson Catalyst for Springfield Advocacy Day
2025.