Since its establishment in 2014, the Vida del Norte Coalition has emerged as a cornerstone of youth advocacy in northern Taos County. While its primary mission remains substance misuse prevention, the organization has evolved into a multi-faceted engine for leadership, education, and the creation of safe community spaces for the next generation.

At the heart of this evolution is Active8, the coalition’s youth-led sector. Composed of local students and emerging leaders, the group serves as the “youth voice” for the area, ensuring that community programs and policies resonate with the peers they are designed to serve. Long-term youth representatives Ricardo León Jr. and Dominic Vallejos have been instrumental in this work, serving as vital links between the coalition’s board and the student body at Questa High School.

For the members involved, the impact is personal. “Vida was important to me to learn how to work around a lot of people and that it makes an impact to work at getting drugs away from teenagers and kids,” León said.

The program’s success is visible through several major infrastructure and policy milestones. Active8 members have been the primary champions for youth projects in Questa, utilizing community festivals and presentations to the Village Council to transform concepts into tangible results. One hallmark of this engagement has been the coalition’s “Teen Nights.” These events have provided a consistent, safe, and substance-free social outlet for local teenagers, featuring everything from music and games to community-building activities.

Beyond modern recreation, the group remains rooted in regional heritage. In partnership with the Questa Farmers Market, past members helped construct a traditional horno, or adobe oven, which sits at the market location and is used primarily during the summer months. Environmental stewardship also remains a priority; members lead annual Earth Day cleanups and have planted drought-tolerant trees at the Questa Municipal Park.

The group’s influence even extends into local policy. Their advocacy led the Questa Independent School District to adopt drug prevention measures within its athletic code and supported the “Refuse to Provide” campaign, targeting the reduction of underage access to alcohol.

“Being a part of this coalition has benefited not only me but many other people, saved many people as well,” Vallejos said. “My time in Vida shaped an individual capable of whatever their greatest dreams are. To learn it’s okay to follow something you believe in, to learn to lead what you believe in, and to learn what believing in something can do for someone—that’s what was important to me.”

Under the mentorship of coordinator Maria Gonzalez and through partnerships with the Questa Police Explorers, Active8 members gain professional skills in civic leadership and project management. As the program enters its next chapter, the coalition is calling for new members to join its ranks.

Active8 provides middle and high school students with the tools, budget, and platform to “be the boss” of their own projects. Young residents interested in building their resumes or advocating for mental health awareness are encouraged to contact the Vida del Norte Coalition to get involved.

By empowering young residents to lead, Active8 ensures that the foundation of a healthier, drug-free Questa is built by the very generation that will inherit its future.

Contact Maria Gonzalez @maria.gonzalez@vidadelnorte.com or (575) 779-2260 for more informaiton or to enroll.