Influence The Choice

We had a blast celebrating our Art with Influence award recipients at the Downtown Issaquah ArtWalk & Music Stroll! 🎨✨

Community members had the opportunity to admire a selection of our students’ award-winning artwork while learning about youth substance use prevention through the lens of creativity and self-expression.

A huge congratulations to all of our talented artists for using their voices and talents to spark important conversations in our community. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and supported these incredible young people!

Join Influence the Choice this Saturday, June 13th, from 5-8 PM during Downtown Issaquah Association's ArtWalk & Music Stroll!

We'll be showcasing the award-winning artwork from our 2026 Art with Influence Contest, featuring powerful and creative pieces from talented local student artists. Stop by our table to view the artwork, meet members of our team, and read the artists' reflections about the meaning and inspiration behind their work.

🎨 Award-winning student artwork
🎶 Live music throughout downtown
🛍️ Local artisan vendors
✨ Hands-on arts activities
📍 Historic Shell Station, Downtown Issaquah
🕔 Saturday, June 13th, 5-8PM

Learn more about ArtWalk & Music Stroll here:
https://downtownissaquah.com/events/artwalk-music-stroll-all-season/

Can't wait until Saturday? Get a sneak peek at this year's winning artwork:
https://www.influencethechoice.org/2026-art-with-influence-award-recipients.html

We hope to see you there as we celebrate the creativity, talent, and voices of local youth!

2026 Art with Influence Award Recipients Overall Grand Prize

This year, Influence the Choice was honored to recognize Barb de Michele as the recipient of the 2026 Vicki Hoffman Award!

Named in honor of Vicki Hoffman - a founding leader of ITC, passionate community organizer, artist, and advocate for youth - this award is presented annually to an individual who demonstrates outstanding dedication to supporting young people and strengthening the Issaquah community through service, leadership, and compassion.

Since ITC’s inception, Barb has been a passionate advocate for youth and a driving force in building a healthier community. We are deeply grateful for her leadership, generosity, and lasting impact. 💙

Last week, Influence the Choice had the honor of recognizing two outstanding youth leaders at the The Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce’s 46th Annual Community Awards! 🎉

Each year, ITC’s Youth Leadership Awards recognize students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, advocacy, and commitment to prevention and community health through our programs and youth advisory council, TECH (Teens Encouraging Community Health).

Mudra was recognized for her years of leadership in prevention and advocacy efforts through ITC and TECH, including Youth Advocacy Day, youth advisory work, and her selection to CADCA's National Youth Council. She was also honored for founding the LakeSafe Initiative, a youth-led effort focused on drowning prevention and open-water safety.

Fiona was recognized for the leadership, passion, and initiative she has brought to ITC this year, including serving as president of Liberty High School’s TECH chapter, leading Take Down To***co Day efforts, and mentoring younger students through our Power of Me, Power of We conference.

Congratulations, Mudra and Fiona! We are so proud of the impact you continue to make in our community! 💙

Tonight at midnight marks the start of the 24-hour giving event, GiveBIG 2026! 👏👏👏

This statewide campaign brings communities across Washington together to invest in meaningful, lasting impact, and we’re proud to be part of it.

Pictured here is Youth Advocacy Day at the Capitol, one of our most impactful programs. Our students have shared that this experience leaves them feeling empowered, heard, and capable of creating change.

With your support, we can continue offering programs like Youth Advocacy Day, equipping young people with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to lead!

Read more and donate here: https://www.wagives.org/organization/Influence-The-Choice

What if protecting the planet also meant protecting youth? 🌎💚

One of our TECH students, Ardra, felt inspired after attending the Issaquah Sustainability Fair 2026 to write our latest blog: The Overlooked Link Between Sustainability and Youth Health. In it, she highlights how environmental issues tied to substance use, like v**e waste and improperly discarded needles, impact community safety and shape youth perceptions, while also emphasizing how sustainability and positive community involvement can serve as powerful protective factors.

When we invest in healthier communities and a healthier planet, we’re investing in the future of our youth.

Read the full blog post here: https://www.influencethechoice.org/itc-blog/the-overlooked-link-between-sustainability-and-youth-health

Early giving for GiveBIG 2026 is now underway! 🤩

Your support makes programs like Power of Me, Power of We possible, helping students build confidence, connection, and skills to make healthy choices. It also creates opportunities like Youth Advocacy Day at the WA State Capitol, where young people use their voices to make a difference.

If your workplace participates in charitable giving or is looking for organizations to support, we’d be grateful if you shared our page with them! 💙

Learn more and donate today: https://www.wagives.org/organization/Influence-The-Choice

GiveBIG 2026 is coming up! 🥳

GiveBIG, powered by 501 Commons through WA Gives, is a statewide campaign that brings people together to support nonprofits making a difference. Your support helps us reach more students with prevention education, provide resources to families, and continue building a community where youth can make healthy choices.

Early giving starts April 28th
GiveBIG day: Tuesday, May 5th

Check out our WA Gives page here: https://www.wagives.org/organization/Influence-The-Choice

As we head into summer and peak lake season, check out this article about how substance use prevention and drowning prevention go hand-in-hand. We're proud to partner with LakeSafe Initiative - Every Lake, Every Life, founded by one of our TECH students, Mudra! 🌊💙

The Risk Starts on Dry Land: What Substance Use Has to Do With Water Safety When people think about drowning prevention, they usually picture life jackets, swimming lessons, and warning signs at the water's edge. Those things matter - a lot. But there's a piece of the...

There are still a few days to create your video or artwork for a chance to win $1000 (or other cash prizes!). 🎨🎬🪡 Submissions are due this Sunday, April 19th. Learn more here: https://www.influencethechoice.org/art-with-influence.html

Art with Influence 14th Annual Video and 2D Art Contest! Submissions due April 19th