CROYA: History and behind-the-scenes

In the heart of Lake Forest, nearby schools and neighborhoods, CROYA empowers and supports the youth. Youth-directed and adult-supported organization, CROYA (Committee Representing Our Young Adults) offers more than just after-school activities: it offers belonging, purpose, and a voice.
Program Manager Todd Nahigian has spent decades watching local youth shape the community from the inside out. “Every initiative at CROYA starts with the students,” Nahigian said. Each spring, high schoolers elect an Executive Committee that meets monthly to brainstorm programs, lead retreats, and launch service initiatives. But students don’t have to hold a title to bring ideas forward. “Some of our best programs come from students who just stop by with a suggestion,” he added.
That accessibility is central to CROYA’s mission. Whether it's a service project, a fundraiser, or a fun outing to a Cubs game, there’s always room for more voices. Even the simplest ideas, like a “phone-free” challenge during meetings, are designed to help teens reconnect in a world of increasing distraction. “At our annual retreat, kids have fun without their phones and walk away amazed at how deeply they connected,” Nahigian said.
Collaboration extends beyond the walls of the CROYA building. The team works closely with local schools, parents, and community groups to reach a broad base of students across Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. Through lunchroom visits, announcements, and a strong presence on social media, word spreads quickly (often peer-to-peer) about upcoming events and opportunities.
Some programs are lighthearted, trips to Six Flags or participating in the parade at Lake Forest Days, while others are more serious. CROYA supports students fulfilling court-ordered service hours and provides a safe space for youth managing personal or mental health challenges. “We see our role as that of mentors, not instructors. We’re here to listen first,” Nahigian emphasized.
In fact, that listening often leads to deeply meaningful initiatives. Nahigian recalled one student who had lost her mother to breast cancer and was inspired to organize a breast cancer awareness night. “She was empowered to create something that mattered to her—and it mattered to others, too.”
CROYA’s reach is broad, and yet its greatest challenge is visibility. Every year brings a new group of seventh graders unfamiliar with the program. “We work hard to make sure families know what CROYA is from the start,” Nahigian said. They’re present at school events, active on social media, and even pop up in the local newspaper or community blogs. Still, the hardest words to hear are: “I would have loved to be part of that, but I didn’t know about it.”
Staffing is another obstacle. With just five team members, CROYA operates a variety of events for thousands of students across multiple schools. Expanding the staff would mean reaching more kids, bringing in more perspectives, and creating even more inclusive programs. “Each staff member connects with different students. More people means more meaningful connections,” Nahigian explained.
This August, CROYA will once again make its presence known at Lake Forest Days: hosting a student band jam and participating in the parade with their own youth-built float. It’s a tradition that speaks to CROYA’s ongoing role as a bridge between the city and its next generation.
In the end, CROYA is more than an extracurricular option. It’s a second home. A creative outlet. A space where teens can lead, serve, be seen and perhaps, most importantly, just be themselves. As Nahigian put it, “If there’s something meaningful in a kid’s life, we ask: What can we do at CROYA to help you make it happen?”
It turns out, a lot.