About Celestial
Celestial began as Simply Youth Institute’s 2025 Giving Tuesday campaign, created in loving memory of Amiya Varble (she/they) — a poet, visionary, and graduate of our Sagacity Leadership Program, which serves teen girls navigating foster care, housing instability, and mental health challenges.
Amiya believed that young people don’t just need services — they need to be seen, heard, and supported.
This campaign is our promise to carry her light forward by investing in healing-centered spaces for girls like her.
On November 21, we gathered at the Amazon Community Center — the same space where Amiya released her first book, Her Voice Discovered — for a powerful community celebration of her light. Through poetry, art, reflection, and movement, we honored her story and spirit.
But Celestial is not over.
We are continuing this campaign to raise the full funds needed to bring back the Sagacity Leadership Program as a summer offering in 2026, expanding to serve youth in both Eugene and Springfield.
This next cohort will rise on the foundation Amiya helped shape.
About Celestial
Celestial began as Simply Youth Institute’s 2025 Giving Tuesday campaign, created in loving memory of Amiya Varble (she/they) — a poet, visionary, and graduate of our Sagacity Leadership Program, which serves teen girls navigating foster care, housing instability, and mental health challenges.
Amiya believed that young people don’t just need services — they need to be seen, heard, and supported.
This campaign is our promise to carry her light forward by investing in healing-centered spaces for girls like her.
On November 21, we gathered at the Amazon Community Center — the same space where Amiya released her first book, Her Voice Discovered — for a powerful community celebration of her light. Through poetry, art, reflection, and movement, we honored her story and spirit.
But Celestial is not over.
We are continuing this campaign to raise the full funds needed to bring back the Sagacity Leadership Program as a summer offering in 2026, expanding to serve youth in both Eugene and Springfield.
This next cohort will rise on the foundation Amiya helped shape.