Ruby is an experienced strategic drug policy reform and harm reduction advocate, from grassroots to high level advocacy. Ruby has been involved in Youth RISE since 2020, as the International Communications and Advocacy Officer, and assumed the position of Executive Director in May 2022.

This abstract presents the process and outcomes of the "Youth In Power" (YIP) project, which aimed to strengthen leadership transitions, institutional memory, and long-term strategies in youth-led drug policy and harm reduction organizations. YIP focused on developing and implementing a youth-work Sustainability Framework, blending best practices from both the youth-work and drug policy/harm reduction sectors.
The key outcomes include: 1) the development of the Sustainability Framework, 2) its successful implementation within participating organizations, and 3) enhanced stability of these organizations—SSDP International, Young Wave, and Youth RISE. The project tackled core challenges in leadership transitions, preserving institutional knowledge, and establishing long-term strategic planning. To support these goals, a 3-day strategy meeting was organized, ensuring the Framework’s alignment with organizational needs and sector-specific challenges.
By addressing these fundamental issues, YIP has contributed to the overall sustainability of the three youth-led organizations involved, ensuring a more robust and stable youth drug policy sector. Furthermore, this Framework is designed to be shared and applied across the broader harm reduction and youth advocacy ecosystem, promoting long-term resilience in similar movements worldwide.
This abstract will discuss the development process of the YIP project, its outcomes, and how the Sustainability Framework offers a practical tool for improving organizational longevity, fostering leadership growth, and maintaining institutional memory in youth-led advocacy organizations. This approach contributes to ensuring a strong foundation for future generations of harm reduction and drug policy reform leaders.