Marin Healthy Youth Partnership is a local nonprofit organization that partners with community organizations and institutions, volunteers, youth and prevention experts to implement evidence-based strategies that foster a healthier environment for all Marin youth.

It Takes All of Us.
Together, we unite local partners to create a healthier, substance-free future for our youth.

Who We Are

MHYP is a nonprofit based on a the 12-sector coalition model with representatives for each sector of our community. The organization is guided by a board of directors and the initiatives are led by staff and volunteers.

  • Youth
    Leo De La Huelga, Tamalpais High School
    Ruby Cole, Marin Academy High School

    Youth Serving Organization
    Don Carney, Youth Transforming Justice

    School
    Jessica Colvin, Tam Union High School District Wellness

    Recovery
    Dina Enberg

    Parent
    Hillary Whitman

    Media
    Lisa Tabb, Starhouse Media

    Law Enforcement
    Chief Michael Norton, Central Marin Police Authority

    Healthcare
    Dr. Cindy Greenberg, Pediatrician

    Government
    Gabe Paulson, Larkspur City Council

    Faith-Based
    Pastor Michael Snearly, Grace Church of Marin

    Civic
    Laura Anderson, Larkspur Community Foundation

    Business
    Michelle Leopold, Ace Hardware

  • Laura Anderson
    Chairperson

    Kelsey Fernandez
    President

    John Wright
    Vice President

    Larry Chu
    Treasurer

    Melissa Wahlstrom
    Secretary

    Ada Perlson
    Youth Board Member

    Dina Enberg
    Board Member

    Jessica Colvin
    Board Member

    Linda Henn
    Board Member

    Laurie Dubin
    Board Member

    Gabe Paulson
    Board Member

  • Kelsey Fernandez, MA
    Executive Director
    kelsey@mhyp.org

    Melissa Wahlstrom, MPH
    Let’s Talk Program Coordinator
    melissa@mhyp.org

    Lisa Klein
    Raising the Bar Program Coordinator
    lisa@mhyp.org

    Amanda Sheeren
    Be the Influence Program Coordinator
    Marketing Coordinator
    amanda@mhyp.org

    Kimberly Navarrete
    Program Coordinator for Spanish-Speaking Programs
    kimberly@mhyp.org

Partnerships

  • Youth Advocacy Committee
    MHYP, in partnership with Bay Area Community Services (BACR), founded the Youth Advocacy Committee (YAC) in 2018 with the goal to stimulate positive community change by promoting awareness, education, and legislative action regarding underage substance use and misuse. Under the umbrella of by BACR since 2022, MHYP continues to collaborate with YAC members on a number of prevention initiatives.

    Elevate Youth Program
    From 2022-2023, MHYP ran a youth program with 9 paid interns who identified as BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ with the goal to elevate youth voice in leadership and activism to prevent teen substance use. Specifically, the program aimed to support teen leaders from communities that have historically been marginalized, and in particular, youth of color and LGBTQIA+ youth. MHYP continues program collaboration with students in this program funded by BACR through Sierra Health.

  • Bay Area Community Resources

    OD Free Marin

    TUHSD Wellness Center

    Youth Leadership Institute

    Youth Transforming Justice

    Youth for Justice

    Marin 9 to 25

MHYP works closely with other local organizations with similar goals to create collective impact around efforts to increase protective factors for Marin youth.

Community & Action