Hundreds of students gathered at Methodist College on Friday for an event designed to empower and inspire the next generation of community leaders.
Level Up Future Leaders – a teen summit hosted by the Regional Office of Education #48, Carle Health and other Peoria-area organizations – brought together approximately 200 eighth-grade students to stretch their potential, build confidence and recognize the impact they can make – both now and in the future.
The event encouraged peer-to-peer connection and featured a series of interactive breakout sessions focused on communication, decision-making, resilience, collaboration and real-world leadership skills.
“This was an amazing event, and I was truly inspired to see so many future leaders attend,” said Derrick Booth, Ed.D, executive director of community services at Trillium Place, who led the keynote address. “We discussed Turning Losses into Lessons, Turning Pain into Purpose, Having Good Character and Dreaming Big. Our goal is to encourage them that although they are our future leaders, being a leader starts today.”
Carle Health team members engaged in discussions with the students, including health education specialists from the Hult Center for Healthy Living, who led sessions such as “Fuel Up: How Food Powers Your Mind, Body and Mood”, “Don’t Get Hooked: What They Don’t Tell You About Vaping” and “Stress Toolbox: Navigating Anxiety, Depression and Coping.
“Our team helped students develop practical coping strategies and evidence-based insights to empower them to make holistic, healthy lifestyle choices as they transition into the high-stress environment of high school,” Health Education Specialist Payton Beach said.
This was the second youth empowerment event Methodist College has hosted in the past year – in January 2025, the college welcomed hundreds of students from around the state to a SkillsUSA career exploration event.
Organizers gave special thanks to the Carle Health Center for Philanthropy in Greater Peoria for helping make this year’s event possible.
“It is never too early to empower young people to think about their future and paths to reach their goals and serve their communities,” Kayla Banks, PhD, RN, chancellor of Methodist College, said. “Methodist College is so grateful for our partnerships in hosting the teen summit to expose students to a college setting, bring positive energy to campus and give back to our local community.”