Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-07 Youth Advisory CommitteeYOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION AGENDA October 7, 2008 Lobby Conference Room, 7:30 PM 410 East Washington Street 1) Call to Order 2) Approve minutes 3) Goals and planning for 2008 Youth Input and Involvement 4) Update on website Bios and pictures; General update 5) Youth Empowerment Grant Changes to forms /updates Press Release/Facebook 6) 2008 -09 Subcommittee Reports Summer of the Arts (Diamitam, Han, Green) Website & Advertising (Nelson, Han, Malatek) Empowerment Grant (Nelson, Green, Han) Recruitment ( Malatek, Green) Others 7) Public Discussion 8) Student Citizenship Awards Weber Elementary - October 21— Diamitani/Nelson Mark Twain Elementary - November 3 — Green/Han Shimek Elementary - November 18 — Green/Han Lincoln Elementary - December 2 — Han/Nelson Horace Mann Elementary - December 16 Lucas Elementary - January 20 Hoover Elementary - February 3 Regina Elementary - February 17 Grant Wood Elementary - March 3 Helen Lemme Elementary - April 7 Longfellow Elementary - April 21 9) Staff update 10) Announcements /Invitations /Events /Opportunities 11) Meeting Schedule MINUTES Youth Advisory Commission September 15, 2008 Harvat Hall, City Hall, 7:30PM Members Present: Diamitani, Green, Han, Nelson Members Absent: Malatek Others Present: City Council Liaison Wilburn, City Clerk Karr Recommendations to Council: Adopt revised By -Laws. Call to Order: Motioned by Nelson, seconded by Han. Approved 4 -0. 7:35PM DRAFT Approve minutes: Green moved to approve the minutes. Han seconded. The minutes were approved 4 -0. Introduction of new Member: Patrick Diamitani introduced himself to all present and begins his term as a member. Election of new Secretary: In resignation of Weeks, there was an election for a new secretary. Green nominated Han for the position, and the motion was seconded by Nelson. Han was elected 4 -0. Review and approve annual report: Nelson moved to approve the report. Han seconded. The annual report was approved 4 -0. Update on website: Karr asked that members submit updates for the website as needed. Nelson then discussed the face book advertisements and pointed out the upward trends in the total number of clicks and impressions made and asked if the traffic in the Youth Advisory Commission website could be checked as well. He added that because of a drastic jump in the cost of the advertisements, however, it would be advisable to cut spending in face book. Youth Empowerment Grant: Members suggested new ways for the Youth Empowerment Grant to be used that would increase participation of local youth including: holding a public discussion meeting where there would be active participation from interested youth in the area; a political event where students could discuss current politics. Karr and Wilburn reminded the commission that the above mentioned items were not included in the agenda and should be added to the next meeting agenda for further discussion. Diamitani suggested that he would ask the West High Student Senate members if any students would be interested. He also mentioned that he would encourage members to apply for the Youth Empowerment Grant, adding that ongoing projects with a sponsor could also apply for aid. Karr will provide information on the grant to Diamitani. Make up of 2008 -09 Subcommittees: With Segar's resignation and with the addition of a new member, there were changes made to the make up of the subcommittees. Diamitani and Green volunteered to join the Summer of the Arts committee. Green also said she would be able to help with the Recruitment Committee. No other changes were made. Public Discussion: none Youth Advisory Commission September 15, 2008 Page 2 Continued Review of present By -Laws: Members agreed that the changes made to Article III, Membership that clarified the eligibility of future commission members were satisfactory. Han noted that Article V, Section A, outlining the election of officers should also be modified to fit the new schedule as well. Karr voiced that the two most logical choices for the changed date for the elections of new officers would be either the end of the calendar year or late in the school year. Han suggested the month of March, and majority agreed. No other suggestions concerning further review of the By -laws were made. The By- laws will be forwarded to the City Council for approval. Goals and Planning for 2008: Discussion continued from the brief discussion from the Youth Empowerment Grant. It was agreed that a heading of Youth Input would be added to the agenda for the next meeting. Green also suggested that organization of a discussion session about the election or current politics in general for interested youth could also be discussed during that time. Student Citizenship Awards: Diamitani asked for clarification on exactly what the Student Citizenship Awards were. Karr gave a brief explanation on what it was and what commission members would be doing at the presentation of the awards. Karr added that it would be best to have at least two members — one primary and one back up — who would be present at the presentation of the awards to ensure that there would be a commission member present. The following 2008 schedule was agreed upon: Roosevelt Elementary - October 6 - Nelson Weber Elementary - October 21 — Diamitam/Nelson Mark Twain Elementary - November 3 - Green /Han Shimek Elementary - November 18 — Green/Han Lincoln Elementary - December 2 — Han/Nelson Horace Mann Elementary - December 16 — OPEN It was agreed to wait until further appointments are made to the Commission to discuss 2009 dates. Staff Update: Council Liaison Wilburn reported on a session at the State League of Cities meeting on Youth involvement and a booklet entitled "Building Effective Youth Councils" distributed at the session. City Clerk Karr will include copies of the publication in the next packet. Wilburn also shared an invitation from a Council Member in Davenport to have a joint meet of Iowa City and Davenport Youth Commissions. Announcements /Invitations/Events /Opportunities: None Meeting Schedule: Green suggested that a meeting before the usual one month period should be held to allow for further planning of a youth input meeting and other possible programs for further participation from youth. It was suggested that a meeting be scheduled Wednesday, September 24, at 7:30 PM or Monday, September 29, at 7:30 PM for further discussion of a youth forum. Nelson may participate via phone for the September meeting. A potential youth forum date of October 7 was mentioned. Meeting adjourned 8:50 PM. Prepared by Han YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2008 (Meeting Date) NAME TERM EXP. 1/16 2/25 3/24 4/21 5/14 6/26 7/7 7/8 8/20 9/15 Hannah Green 12/31/09 O/E O/E NM O/E X NM NM X NM X Michelle Han 12/31/09 X X NM O/E O/E NM NM X NM X Michael Nelson 12/31/08 X X NM X X NM NM O/E NM X David Se ar 12/31/08 X X NM X O/E NM NM O/E NM - -- Lin Weeks 12/31/08 X X NM X X NM NM X NM - -- Danielle Malatek 12/31/09 - -- - -- NM X X NM NM X NM OX Patrick Diamitani 12/31/09 - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- X KEY: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = No meeting - -- = Not a Member The Iowa City Youth Advisory Commission By -Laws Article I - Name The official name of the organization shall be The Iowa City Youth Advisory Commission. Article II - Purpose The mission of the Youth Advisory Commission is to promote understanding and awareness of Iowa City among Iowa City youth, allow a select group of youth to help make decisions concerning them and their peers, enable youth members to utilize and expand on their leadership abilities, to serve as a mechanism for communication between youth and adults in Iowa City and create a bridge whereon youth and adults can develop partnerships. • The Iowa City Youth Advisory Commission will empower, engage, and foster Youth participation in its local community; more specifically to provide a "sounding board" for youth issues affecting the Iowa City community youth. Article III - Membership Shall consist of seven [7] members appointed by the City Council. Members shall be initially appointed for staggered terms as outlined in Res. # 05 -371. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for two year terms beginning October 1 of each school year (requires change in resolution as well), and seats shall be filled accordingly to the requirements, as set below: • Four [4] persons ages fifteen seventeen `15_17] currently enrolled in an Iowa City high school or high school equivalent, with consideration given to the diversity between schools (requires change in resolution as well). • Three [3] persons ages eighteen- twenty -one [18 -21] All ages shall be calculated on the date of the filing of applications, and all members shall be residents of Iowa City. Article IV - Meetings Section A: Shall be run in accordance will the most current edition of Roberts Rules of Order. Youth Advisory Commission By -Laws Page 2 Section B: Quorum must be attained before business can transpire; thus, four [4] commissioner present at one time shall constitute a quorum. Section C: Notice of official Commission meetings needs to be in accordance with Iowa Open Meetings Laws. Section D: The date /location /time of meetings shall be set by the Chairperson of the Commission [subject to approval by the Commission members] in conjunction with the City Clerk. Section E: Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, or by a consensus of two [2] of the sitting membership of the Commission. Section F: Meeting shall be held, monthly, but not limited to. Article V - Elections Section A: Elections of new officers to a term will occur at the first meeting of the Commission after the first of eaGh GaIGRdaF yea March. Section B: Officers will be elected by a majority vote of the commission. Section C: Terms of all officer positions shall be for one [1] year, but all persons are eligible for re- elections. Article VI - Officers Officers of the Commission shall consist of, but not limited to, Chair, Vice - Chair, and Secretary. Article VII - Duties Section A: The Chair shall preside and convene regularly scheduled Commissions meetings; Shall direct the business of the Commission; Shall work in conjunction with the City Council liaison and City Clerk to facilitate all work of the Commission in accordance with the City of Iowa City Ordinances and State Laws; Shall appoint all committees, and appoint other posts within the Commission, except those already mandated, with subject to approval by the commission. Section B: The Vice -Chair shall chair all committees on special subjects, except as designated by the Chair; shall assist the Chair in all work of the Commission; shall oversee all work of the Commission; provide ideas, and projects, for the Commission to undertake; shall preside in the absence of the chair. Youth Advisory Commission By -Laws Page 3 Section C: The Secretary shall be responsible preparing the minutes and forwarding them to the City Clerk for distribution; shall assist the Chair and Vice -Chair in their activities; shall work hand -in -hand with the City Clerk. Article VIII - Vacancies, Resignations, Dismissal Section A: Resignations shall be submitted to the City Clerk in writing. Section B: Prior notice of absences to the City Clerk shall be sufficient for an excused absence. Sections C: Two - thirds [2/3] of the Commission may recommend dismissal to the City Council. Article IX - Committees The commission may create various committees as needed. The Chair shall appoint all committee members, subject to approval by the rest of the commission. No more than three [3] Commission members may serve at once on a committee. Article X - Amendments Section A: These by -laws may be amended when necessary by two - thirds [2/3] majority of the Commission membership. Section B: Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Commission in writing, with possible decision and action to be scheduled for the following meeting. Section C: All changes are subject to approval by the Iowa City Council. These By -Laws of the Iowa City Youth Advisory Commission were approved at the meeting of the Commission on September 15, 2008; and approved by the City Council at their meeting ------------ Building Effective Youth Councils A Practical Guide to Engaging Youth in Policy Making Shanetta Martin, Karen Pittman, Thaddeus Ferber, Ada McMahon Published by the Forum for Youth Investment, July 2007 In collaboration with: The National League of Cities' Institute for Youth, Education, and Families, and The National Conference of State Legislatures as part of the Youth Engagement Series for Municipal and State Leaders *NATIONAL DISSEMINATION PARTNERS* NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES the forum O� _ FOR YOUTH INVESTMENT f�+ moving ideas to impact ��IIIII NATIONAL CONFEKENCE of STATE LEGISLATURES 7`he Forum for America's Ideas M The Forum for Youth Investment is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping communities and the nation make sure all young people are Ready by 21TI: ready for college, work and life. This goal requires that young people have the supports, opportunities and services needed to prosper and contribute where they live, learn, work, play and make a dif- ference. The Forum provides youth and adult leaders with the information, technical assistance, training, network support and partnership opportunities needed to increase the quality and quantity of youth investment and youth involvement. Building Effective Youth Councils: A Practical Guide to Engaging Youth in Policy Making Shanetta Martin, Karen Pittman, Thaddeus Ferber, Ada McMahon Suggested Citation: Martin, S., Pittman, K., Ferber, T., McMahon, A. (2007, April). Building Effective Youth Councils: A Practical Guide to Engaging Youth in Policy Making. Washington, D.C.: The Forum for Youth Investment, Impact Strategies, Inc. ©2007 by Impact Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved. Parts of this report may be quoted or used as long as the authors and the Forum for Youth Investment are recognized. No part of this publication maybe reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without prior permission from the Forum for Youth Investment. Please contact the Forum for Youth Investment and Impact Strategies, Inc. at The Cady - Lee House, 7064 Eastern Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20012 -2031, T: 202.207.3333, F: 202.207.3329, Youth @forumfyi.org for information about reprinting this publication and information about other publications. Acknowledgements This guide builds directly upon the work of many others. We owe an enormous thank you to the staff and members of the 18 state and local youth councils (see right) who collaborated with us, offering their assistance in developing this report. We hope that it reflects their experiences, informs their future decisions and provides a common language and tools to help others follow in their footsteps. Special thanks to the New Mexico Youth Alliance, Hampton Youth Commission, Maine Legislative Youth Advisory Council and Boston Mayor's Council for their candid and abundant advice and for providing the photos used throughout this report. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the national organizations that work on youth engagement issues — specifically the California Research Bureau (CRB) for their assistance in connecting us to existing youth council groups across the country. This guide was informed by CRB's recent report, "Youth Involvement in Policymaking," which discusses and tracks the intentional involvement of young people in the public policy arena. Thanks also to the National Conference of State Legislatures who have worked to bring youth involvement in policy to the forefront with state legislators across the country, tracked legislation around youth participation in state government and partnered with the Forum to hold an audioconference showcasing the work of youth councils across the country. The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of Livia Kent, Special Assistant to the Executive Director at the Forum, for editing and asisting with layout and design. Finally, thanks to the Surdna Foundation, the Volunteer IMPACT Fund and the New Mexico Community Foundation. Their financial support of the Forum's youth engagement work helped make his guide possible. State Youth Councils Arizona Governor's Youth Commission, Tammy Paz -Combs Iowa Youth Action Committee, Beth Govoni Louisiana Youth Advisory Council Maine Legislative Youth Advisory Council, Phillip McCarthy Maryland Youth Council Missouri Governor's Youth Cabinet Nebraska Governor's Youth Advisory Council Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum New Hampshire Youth Advisory Council New Mexico Youth Alliance, Lanny Leyba North Carolina State Youth Council, Cynthia Giles Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council, Greg Williamson City Youth Councils Boston Mayor's Youth Council (MA), Patty McMahon Des Moines Youth Advisory Board (IA), Karen Ligas Grand Rapids Mayor's Youth Council (MI), Shannon Harris Hampton Youth Commission (VA), Cindy Carlson Nashville Youth Advisory Council (TN), Sherica Clark San Francisco Youth Commission (CA), Rachel Antrobus National League of Cities National Conference of State Legislatures California Research Bureau Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development Youth on Board University of Wisconsin Youth Leadership Institute Table of Contents Rationale for Youth Engagement in Government Overview........................................................ ............................... 8 The Importance of Youth Engagement ......... ............................... io The Principles of Youth Engagement ............ ............................... 12 Youth Engagement in Government .............. ............................... 13 6 Keys to Creating Effective Youth Councils Introduction to the 6 Keys ............................ ............................... 18 Key is Determine Council Membership ....... ............................... 22 Key 2: Ensure a Sound Infrastructure .......... ............................... 24 Key 3: Provide Supportive Work Environment ........................... 26 Key 4: Build Youth Capacity .......................... ............................... 28 Key 5: Deepen Youth Motivation .................. ............................... 30 Key 6: Negotiate Opportunities for Access ... ............................... 32 WhatNext? .................................................... ............................... 35 References..................................................... ............................... 36 Resources State Youth Councils: Basic Info ................... ............................... 40 City Youth Councils: Basic Info ..................... ............................... 45 Additional Resources .................................... ............................... 48 Youth Council Enabling Legislation .............. ............................... 51 Youth Council Application Forms ................. ............................... 67 1 . I L%b r e New Mexico Youth Alliance with Governor Richardson Rationale for Youth Engagement in Government "[Youth councils are] a popular and effective way to get youth more involved in solving local problems and more actively engaged in the community." — "Promoting Youth Participation, " National League of Cities, 2002 "Socially engaged young people have the knowledge that their actions can effect positive change. They possess an awareness and motivation about the need for positive change in their world that is based on knowledge. They have the skills and capacity to make a contribution. They are resourceful, connected and experienced; they know how to access and navigate their ways through different settings and institutions to find and create opportunities to be engaged in purposeful collective action that can lead to positive social change or improvements in conditions for themselves and others." "Youth Acts, Community Impacts, " Forum for Youth Investment, 2001 Overview What is a Youth Council? Many mayors, governors and legislatures across the country have created youth councils: formal bodies made up of youth (typically ages 16 -18) who advise high - level decision makers and elected officials. The structure and role of councils vary from city to city and state to state. In some cases they provide advice on pro- posed and pending legislation, state bud- get expenditures and funding for youth programs. In Maine, the council also has the duty of drafting and proposing legis- lation. Whatever their structure, youth councils give young people a meaningful role in the policy and decision - making process. Young people of all ages have found their voice through organizing, advocacy and community leadership. Since young people aged 18 and over have direct voting power, youth councils are not the only way that young people can be involved in policy making. Youth Councils, however, provide the opportunity to have direct ac- cess to policy makers. Increasingly, youth and adults are looking for strategies to ensure that they take full advantage of this opportunity. About the Guide The Forum for Youth Investment believes that meaningful youth engagement is enti- cal for the creation of sustainable, wide- spread, high- impact change in the systems and settings that can either support or hinder young people's progress. This guide builds on the Forum's earlier work on youth engagement — Youth. Ac- tion. Community. Development: The Com- munity and Youth Development Series, produced with funding from the Ford Building Effective Youth Councils Foundation and available on the Forum's Web site (www.forumfyi.org). This guide is also part of a larger goal of the Forum to produce timely, practical and helpful publications for change -maker leaders on the national, state and local levels. These leaders can be members of government, nonprofit organizations, communities or youth and their families, all of whom take a Big Picture approach to ensuring that young people are Ready by 21TM: ready for college, work and life. The guide is designed to help states and localities create or strengthen their own youth councils. It is a synthesis of theory and practice that provides a general framework for thinking about youth councils, explaining the principles for youth action and the importance of youth engagement. It also incorporates advice and lessons from people in the field who have started or currently staff youth councils across the country. The guide incorporates examples from these youth councils to illustrate key points, focusing heavily on the youth councils in Boston, Massachusetts; Hampton, Virginia; and the state of New Mexico. Because of the growing interest in creating state youth councils, we have written the lessons here with the particular challenges of state councils in mind. But most, if not all, of these lessons are also applicable on the local level. The guide is divided into three parts: The Rationale for Youth Engagement in Government provides a theoretical and historical context for youth councils by articulating the rationale for engaging youth in policy and decision- making processes and by 0008 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils explaining the Forum's Principles of Youth Engagement. 6 Keys to Creating Effective Youth Councils delves into the nuts and bolts of creating a youth council. This sections focuses on two essentials — laying the foundation and supporting youth action — and offers tested options for achieving six key tasks associated with these two objectives. There are two types of action required to create an effective council. If your state or community has an established, staffed and funded council, you may want to skim the first three keys associated with laying a strong foundation and focus on the second three to learn about strategies for increasing the effectiveness of your council and its members. Resources includes basic information about a range of youth councils, a list of additional available resources, samples of youth council enabling legislation, and samples of youth council application forms. All in all, this guide should provide you with the basic information, advice, tools and resources necessary to create effective youth councils. 0009 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils The Importance of Youth Engagement Genuine Engagement The true engagement of young people in the change process signals a fundamental shift in how decisions are made. Young people are too often excluded from the decision - making process, even on the issues that most concern them. As Jason Warren noted a decade ago when he was a member of the New York City Youth Force, "Every day, in local arenas all the way to the White House, adults sit around and decide what problems youth have and what youth need, without ever consult- ing us." Data on the status of youth in the U.S. brings urgency to Jason's call for Figure 1: The "Double Arrow" Youth Contributing to Communities Young people and adults working together to create the necessary conditions for the successful development of themselves, their peers, their families and their communities. Communities Contributing to Youth youth to be at the table as informers, crit- ics and strategists. Young people are disproportionately involved in and affected by the problems that beset communities and states. Recent research by Gambone, Connell and Klem, reports that only four in ten young people in their early 2o's are "doing well ": in college or working, emotionally and physi- cally healthy and engaged in political or community life (Gambone, et. al, 2002). Another study, commissioned by America's Promise Alliance, suggests that only three in ten young people ages 12 to 17 get the supports that they need to flourish: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education and opportunities to help others (America's Promise, 2oo6). These data are certainly cause for concern. But they are also cause for engagement. Young people are the source for many solutions. And studies show that young people want to be engaged as change makers. The "Double Arrow" As Figure 1 suggests, change happens when youth and community development are seen as two sides of the same coin. Young people need stronger family and community supports. They also, however, need to be afforded the tools, training and trust to apply their creativity and energy to effect change in their own lives and in the future of their neighborhoods, communi- ties, cities and states. The first argument led the Forum to create the Ready by 21TM approach to help public, private and community leaders in states and commu- nities make fundamental changes in the way they do business. The second argu- ment led the Forum to emphasize youth and family engagement as one of the four key strategies for long -term, sustainable change in order to change the odds for youth. The key to meaningful youth engagement or meaningful engagement at any age, however, is asking and answering the question, "Engagement for what ?" As shown by Figure 2, youth can and should be engaged in each of the four key change 00010 The Forum for Youth Investment strategies needed to ensure strong and sustained progress. The Forum has been promoting strategies for deeper youth engagement since 1999• Engagement for Change Improving the quality and coordination of youth services and supports is critical to improving youth outcomes. Communi- ties need to respond with a greater sense Building Effective Youth Councils of urgency and commitment. Generating improvements often requires changes in policies and resource allocations. These happen faster when there is strong com- munity demand. Without direct youth and family input, however, improvement efforts can miss the mark. The Forum separates youth and family engagement from the task of increasing broad public demand for change to underscore the importance of engaging those Figure 2: Promoting Integrated Change Strategies: Engaging Youth to Improve Services, Align Policy and Increase Demand Engaging Youth and Families. Since 1999, the Forum has worked with community and youth engagement leaders across the country and around the world to document effective strategies for youth engagement to inrranca nnthantir rnm- munity engagement. In 2002, the Forum formally partnered with community mobilization organizations in Nashville and Austin to develop a strategy for engaging young people as core staff. These "youth mobilizers" research com- munity problems, engage community members and community partners, and work towards long -term solutions. System Change /Services Coordination. In 2003, the Forum began work with educators and education advocates to develop guides to involve young people in school reform efforts and has helped youth map and assess community resources. The Forum developed an observation and discussion tool for helping young people and adults have conversations about what makes a good youth- centered school. Increasing Demand through Issue Advocacy. In 2004, the Forum helped create the Youth Policy Action Center, a collaborative effort of more than loo organizations, using the Web as a tool for giving young people a voice in national and local advocacy efforts. Policy and Resource Assessment. In 2005, the Forum began involving young people in policy development by providing them with direct links to policy makers and /or to the policy- making and assessment process. directly affected. In order to create opportuni- ties for change, adult change makers need to find effective `nays to involve youth in shap- ing policy, improving services and building demand (three of the four change strategies). Similarly, those who work to engage youth (the fourth strat- egy), should make sure these youth are engaged in service improvement, policy deci- sions and increasing demand. Meaningful youth engagement requires engagement in the full range of deliberate change strategies, and all successful change efforts depend on the meaningful engagement of youth. 11 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils The Principles of Youth Engagement Research shows that young people who are actively engaged in social change efforts have Figure 3: 1 Foundation, 3 Strengths, 8 Principles three core strengths: Opportunity 0 Sustain Access and Influence Motivation 0 Convey an Intentional Philosophy Identify Core Issues • Capacity: knowledge, leadership and action skills • Motivation: understanding and awareness of issues and root causes, systems, strategies for change, commitment and a sense of responsibility • Opportunity: chances to act on passions, use skills, and generate change through relevant sustained action. These strengths do not occur by chance. Young people build skills, acquire passions, come to understandings and take on respon- sibilities for changing their worlds as they grow, learn and develop. Practice suggests that young people are most likely to develop these strengths when they are connected to programs and organizations that have effec- tive youth engagement strategies explicitly designed to address these core needs. To help programs and organizations develop these effective engagement strategies, the Forum, in partnership with youth and adult Capacity 0 Provide developed by Community IMPACT! USA to Individual Support 0 Build Youth and Adult Capacity © Create Youth/ cussed above, and a fourth category: founda- Adult Teams • Capacity: knowledge, leadership and action skills • Motivation: understanding and awareness of issues and root causes, systems, strategies for change, commitment and a sense of responsibility • Opportunity: chances to act on passions, use skills, and generate change through relevant sustained action. These strengths do not occur by chance. Young people build skills, acquire passions, come to understandings and take on respon- sibilities for changing their worlds as they grow, learn and develop. Practice suggests that young people are most likely to develop these strengths when they are connected to programs and organizations that have effec- tive youth engagement strategies explicitly designed to address these core needs. To help programs and organizations develop these effective engagement strategies, the Forum, in partnership with youth and adult tion. Organizations and institutions seeking to engage youth need a strong foundation and a stable operational infrastructure that is suited to the level (e.g., neighborhood, state) and type (e.g., policy advocacy, community mobilizing) of youth engagement desired. We used these eight principles from the Forum's report, Core Principles for Engag- ing Young People in Community Change (Pittman et al, 2007), in creating six keys to successful youth councils, introduced on page 18. For this guide, we expanded and tailored the basic principles to address the specific challenges and considerations youth councils encounter and require. 000 12 The Forum for Youth Investment community leaders in Nashville and Austin, adapted the Youth Mobilizer model originally developed by Community IMPACT! USA to Foundation create eight Youth Action principles (see Create a Strong Home Base Figure 3). The eight principles are explicitly organized around the three core strengths dis- Design an Aggressive Outreach Strategy cussed above, and a fourth category: founda- tion. Organizations and institutions seeking to engage youth need a strong foundation and a stable operational infrastructure that is suited to the level (e.g., neighborhood, state) and type (e.g., policy advocacy, community mobilizing) of youth engagement desired. We used these eight principles from the Forum's report, Core Principles for Engag- ing Young People in Community Change (Pittman et al, 2007), in creating six keys to successful youth councils, introduced on page 18. For this guide, we expanded and tailored the basic principles to address the specific challenges and considerations youth councils encounter and require. 000 12 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils Youth Engagement in Government The National League of Cities (NLC) suggests that there is no one "right" way to promote youth participation in local government and identifies four options for municipal leaders to consider: a) youth service, b) youth summits, c) youth mapping efforts and d) youth councils or youth appointments to local boards and commissions. NLC writes that while youth councils "by their nature only reach a small fraction of a city's youth popula- tion, they make a powerful statement to all young people and adult residents that youth are full and valued members of the community" (National League of Cities, 2002). Youth councils are clearly growing in popularity (see Figure 4). The NLC Web site lists more than 140 local youth councils in 19 states plus the District of Columbia. The Forum's research found twelve states with youth councils that act in an advisory role to state policy makers. Six of these state councils were created in statute: Maine (2002), Nevada (2007), New Mexico (2003), Washington state (2005), New Hampshire (2oo6) and Louisiana (2007). The remaining six youth councils — in Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, Nebraska, Arizona and Missouri — were created through execu- Figure 4: Locations of City and State Youth Councils OREGON &an Fran m"V NEVAI A n. Pacific 6 ocsan .fiLiF�RN1tlV Las Angele San Diego z_ . 000 13 July 2007 AL TA. C A A 0 A VAN. 'Wonnipr% -.f;E.BE.- A1O41TA,H# NORTH S7A K0 1A cab"" INNESOT `- 1 "r �l �rorgkAty Son IDAHO III wig sCMiS N ° NEWN Y Wyomqp CrrFA aw York FA. OHIO h liaNdipiph la UFA u e r I u� i D.C. I bAS ILL IN . V COLORACO KENTUCKY Ia1NR tvct.r,- k Ocean Ocean harnix krEw M ' s_c. .r 0 ISxaEesvide YOUd'� i�buoP1�5 — eva�r yEitla� v CityaTawnYdXfiL,unrils _ id"eJ "ai"acz •Jxitscall� 1 IE JG A �f3kJ651ANA ${]NC1Ft+4 INI,lhi{II,IA �DU�ERtin � '�� *Chlnu ue MELXj C l4? Flo 7 it uFfc.''daa ,ce P.,5 mu n+ M n1* THE 8A,HAMA$ URAPSO Navas 000 13 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils tive order. Of those five, North Carolina has the longest existing youth council with 35 years of experience. Youth engagement in Hampton, VA Hampton's powerful history of youth engagement, which culminated when the city received the prestigious Innova- tions in American Government Award in 2005, provides a promising example of how an effective youth council can be developed over time. Hampton's story is proof that youth civic engagement can be done compre- hensively and well. Hampton sees the options for youth civic engagement sug- gested by the National League of Cities not as a menu from which to pick one option, but as a mandate for ensuring that all young people have opportunities that match their skills and interests. With the support of the Hampton Coali- tion for Youth, Hampton youth and adults worked to develop a rich "pyra- mid of opportunities" outlining three levels at which youth can be involved. At the pyramid's base are projects, tasks and service learning opportuni- ties, which build to opportunities for input and consultation and culminate at the top in opportunities for shared leadership. Because the two dozen high school students who sit on the Hampton Youth Commission have made their way up the "pyramid of opportunity," Hampton youth and adults can be sure that these commission members have gained through experience the capacity, motivation and opportunity needed to responsibly develop recommendations for the city's Comprehensive Plan. Youth Civic Engagement in Hampton, Virginia 1990 — 2005 1990 -1996 The City Council convenes the Coalition for Youth, charged with developing recommendations for the city's youth /family agenda. The Coalition's fed- eral planning grant ends in 1995, but the work doesn't. The Coalition for Youth becomes a city department. Young people begin participating in neighborhood planning efforts. 1996 -1998 Hampton's Planning Department hires two youth as city planners and youth engagement be- comes a topic of the city's new Neighborhood College. The Hampton Youth Commission, an outgrowth of the Mayor's Youth Council, is established. City Council funds the Youth Commission's grant program. The Hampton Superintendent of Schools creates a Youth Advisory Board with help from Alternatives, Inc. High school principals soon follow suit. 1999 -2001 Youth become voting members of the Parks & Recreation Youth Advisory Board and on the Citizens' Unity Commission. The first Youth Com- ponent of the city's Comprehensive Plan is adopted. Youth become full voting members on several civic associations. Local youth and adults create the "pyra- mid of opportunities" to describe the emerging youth engagement system. 2002- 2004 Hampton is awarded the Our Town award through Jostens Foundation and Search In- stitute. Hampton is selected as one of eight cities to receive the Kellogg Foundation's Youth Innovation Fund through the National Service Learning Partner- ship. Hampton's Youth Civic Engagement initiative is a finalist in the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award sponsored by the Ash Institute and Kennedy School of Government. 2006 Hampton's Youth Civic Engagement initiative is a WINNER of the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award sponsored by the Ash Institute and Kennedy School of Government. abbreviated from Youth Engagement Milestones, the Coalition for Youth http://www.hampton.gov/foryouth/youth milestones.htm 000 14 The Forum for Youth Investment Fil 1w J -4 � IL a • PPP' owns, I� U Boston Youth Council meeting with Senator Kennedy 6 Keys to Creating Effective Youth Councils "Young people want and deserve a voice in their communities. City officials make decisions that affect youth on a daily basis. Yet young people often have no direct role in shaping or influencing local policies and programs. Even well- intentioned efforts to work for youth – by `protecting' them from perceived threats or by `rescuing' those who already are in jeopardy – can prevent us from recognizing the importance of working with youth to identify positive solutions and build stronger communities." — Promoting Youth Participation, National League of Cities "WANTED: 20 high school students with vision, community spirit, leadership and — here's where it gets interesting — the ability to deal with City Hall." Hampton Daily Press, October 27, 1997 Introduction to the 6 Keys What does it take for every community and state to create an effective youth coun- cil with a diverse and engaged member- ship that is supported, connected, respect- ed and heard? There is little dispute that, if done well, involving young people in the policy - making process can empower youth and build their strengths, help policy makers view youth as a resource to inform their decisions, and result in policies and priorities that are more relevant to youths' lives. But what does it take, especially at the state level, to create youth councils that really work as a part of an overall commitment to youth engagement? Youth councils are representative bodies whose composition, functions and struc- ture are often set by law. Their members are appointed and publicly recognized. The public and formal nature of youth councils pose challenges to almost every aspect of infrastructure development — from outreach to funding to staffing to the selection of an administrative home. Adding to infrastructure challenges, the strong intuitive appeal of youth councils means that frequently the time lapse between idea and implementation is quite short. This means youth councils are sometimes created and announced before a solid plan has been devised for support- ing them or a common understanding has been developed about their roles and responsibilities. The 2 Essentials The specific advice and concerns ex- pressed by the youth councils referenced in this paper relate to the challenges of learning to operate in city or state govern- ment and of becoming familiar with the world of public policy and policy makers. Their experiences confirmed that there are two simple, but essential, ingredients Building Effective Youth Councils to a strong youth council: a solid founda- tion and an unwavering belief that youth engagement in government is good for government. The 6 Keys Those interviewed were most passionate and consistent on one point: Creating successful youth councils entails laying a strong foundation that addresses issues of 1) membership, 2) infrastructure and 3) work environment. These are the first three keys to successful youth councils. If these foundation - laying tasks are not done well, it will be difficult to provide youth council members with the supports they need to make a difference. Even when the basic foundation is well laid, however, youth council directors must work to deliberately support meaningful youth action by addressing the second trio of keys: 4) building youth capacity, 5) deepening youth motivation and 6) negotiating opportunities for access to policy makers and youth constituents. Figure 6 shows the relationship between the six keys and the suggested steps to achieving them. These steps are further elaborated in the pages that follow. The six keys were adapted from the principles for youth engagement, presented on page 12, with the specific challenges that youth councils face in mind., The Big Goal Youth development, youth leadership, youth voice, youth service, youth action, youth organizing. Underlying all of these terms is a commitment to engage young The scope of the challenges to creating a youth council, compared to other structures for youth engagement, warrant an expansion of the principles related to laying a strong foundation. 66618 The Forum for Youth Investment Figure 6: Six Keys to Effective Youth Councils 4A Key 6: Negotiate OPPORTUNITIES for Access Arrange Authentic Access to Policy Makers • Create shared leadership opportunities with policy makers • Bring members into policy- making process • Hire a youth liaison • Facilitate concrete opportunities to advise top officials • Integrate members into government depart- ments by pairing with directors Key 4: Build Youth CAPACITY Provide Ongoing Training & Support • Provide skill building for youth • Provide orientation and training for adults • Identify authentic ways to integrate training and real work • Make sure youth have skills needed to do tasks assigned • Provide informal coaching & support Utilize Teams • Create youth -adult teams • Create a core team if necessary • Use work teams as capacity- building and workload sharing strategy Key 1: Determine Council Membership • Define composition carefully • Select manageable size • Weigh representation goals against size /cost • Consider age range • Create aggressive recruitment strategy • Recruit diversity • Connect to existing organizations for outreach • 19 Building Effective Youth Councils Create a Visible Public Presence • Develop a communications plan • Facilitate opportunities for youth to testify at public hearings Facilitate Connections to Youth Constituents • Be intentional about creating a "ripple effect" • Convene the broader youth community • Connect the broader youth community to resources and information Key 5: Deepen Youth MOTIVATION Help Youth Identify Core Issues • Reconcile youth concerns with political realities • Connect immediate issues to broader systemic chal- lenges • Make sure members do their homework • Find creative ways to document broader youth opinions Help Youth Understand Strategies for Policy Change • Be sure youth know roles council can play • Help youth leverage formal and informal access • Help youth understand that change takes time FOUNDATION viopKey 2: Ensure a Sound Infrastructure • Secure adequate, long -term funding • Assess funding needs • Lock in out -year funding • Select an appropriate administrative home • Weigh pros and cons of being inside government • Connect to coordinating body rather than single department • Institutionalize Council Key 3: Provide a Supportive Work Environment • Recruit the right staff • Get youth development and policy backgrounds • Find creative ways to get more expertise • Create a strong home base • Provide a dedicated workspace • Plan face -to -face meetings • Use technology to connect • Ensure members have a strong home - base back home July 2007 people as people with talents, opinions and a desire to make a difference while simultaneously remembering that they are young people. Youth programs of all stripes have difficulty getting this balance right. As Irby et al note in Youth Action (2001), "Efforts that lean too far toward individual development may run the risk of linking young people with purposeful but unim- portant activities that keep them busy, but are not essential to the long -term health of their organizations or their commu- nities. Efforts that lean too far toward community development or broad social justice, however, run the risk of exploiting or excluding young people as programs struggle to maintain their pace and focus in the drive to achieve external goals." Youth councils tend to err on the side of individual development. "Rubbing elbows" with policy makers can be heady stuff for youth (or for anyone). It is easy to declare your youth council a success because it offered young people leadership skill development, opportunities to speak in public, to travel, to interact with a di- verse group of youth and to have air time with policy makers. But youth councils can and should be more than leadership development opportunities. The more in- formed young people are about the issues and the policy options, the more they rep- resent not just themselves but their peers, the more likely it is that policy makers will listen and policies will change. Even the most informed young person needs an outlet in order to affect policy. Youth must be taken seriously by the adults who work with them, be expected to work hard, be given a real role and have access to the policy - making process. Again, we suggest that those looking to create a youth council begin with the three tasks associated with laying the foundation. Those who already have a youth council in place and are looking to strengthen its impact or reach may want Building Effective Youth Councils to scan the first three tasks but focus on the set of tasks associated with supporting youth action. "Twenty -two of us have been given the means to represent our peers and potentially change Washington59 — MEMBER, Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council 00020 The Forum for Youth Investment Fil 1w J -4 � IL a • PPP' owns, I� U Building Effective Youth Councils 1 Key 1: Determine Council Membership Define the council's Many state youth councils wish to have composition carefully broad representation from all areas of the state, but they find that doing so limits Select a manageable size for the the number of times the council members youth council. Youth councils generally can all come together for trainings and have between 15 and activities without significant expense. lilt's very important to me that young people with different perspectives from different neighborhoods give ideas.99 — MAYOR MENINO, Boston, "Movers and Shakers" 20 members, but each youth council must decide how many participants is ideal given its goals. The New Mexico Youth Alliance, for example, draws one member from each legislative district, for a total of 112, making it the larg- est youth council in the country, on paper. In reality, however, New Mexico has found it challenging to recruit the full number and found it even more challenging to keep such a large group of youth engaged (see next point). The Hampton Youth Commission, on the other hand, recommends "staying away from massive numbers, but having enough members so the workload can be divided evenly and the existing members are not given an overwhelming amount." Balance the desire to represent all schools, neighborhoods and districts with the need to manage size and cost. Cities /states must decide if they are selecting their young people to come from and represent distinct neighborhoods /districts or schools /school districts. For states, geography becomes an even more important consideration. New Mexico's ambitious 112 -seat Youth Alliance covers each legislative district of the large, mostly rural state. Transporta- tion is a major problem for the Alliance given how spread out members are, the large geographic distance required to travel to meetings and the relative lack of resources available for the task. In addition, there is often limited support capacity in Youth Alliance members' home communities, particularly for members who live in rural areas. Determine a term length that creates a steady stream of youth leaders. Youth council members tend to serve two -year terms. When starting a council, consider using staggered terms to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of youth who remain from one year to the next. Consider creating part -time staff positions that talented, committed youth members could shift into beyond their tenure as an actual member. The Hampton Youth Commission reports that "there seem to be two considerations when deciding how long someone can serve on the commission. On the one hand, it is a wonderful opportunity that should be available to as many youth as possible. On the other hand, it takes about a year to really understand what you're doing. Two years is a big commit- ment, but one year goes by very quickly." Some commissions have a two -year or longer term, but members must reapply at 000 22 The Forum for Youth Investment "If you have a good system of neighborhood - based, school -based and community -based civic engagement opportunities, then you have a tremendous pool of young people to pull from.... By the time they get into those roles, the kids that come up through neighborhood groups have just as much skill or right to be on the commission as those that came from some other route.99 —CINDY CARLSON, Hampton Youth Commission the end of each year or at the end of one term to be able to serve another. Carefully consider the age range of youth members. Most youth council groups have high - school -aged youth at their core, starting at age 16. Some include older youth, extending the age limit up to 24. Older youth bring an experience /skill level that can be utilized by the council to grow the work quickly, especially in the formative years. Older youth can also serve as mentors for younger adolescents on the council. Yet younger youth also have much to contribute. In Washington State, for example, an 11-year-old helped found the youth council but was not allowed to serve as an official member because he was younger than 14. In communities like Hampton, where there are numerous levels of engagement, it is possible for young people to be involved at earlier ages. Having a range of ages on the council requires intentional work to achieve age diversity. One way to bridge the gap would be to allow members to age into the upper limit, al- lowing a few seniors to stay on as mentors or committee leaders. If the council covers a range of ages, be aware of the different needs of different age groups and consider creating different roles within the council. Create an aggressive recruitment strategy to ensure diverse representation Recruit a diverse group of youth for the council. To ensure diversity in perspective, it is important to engage both traditional (e.g., high achieving students) and nontraditional Building Effective Youth Councils (e.g., disconnected and out -of- school youth, teen mothers) youth leaders. Nontraditional youth leaders lend a unique perspective and authentic stories on what it takes to help young people that are in challenging situa- tions. Most youth councils work to ensure their members reflect the diversity of young people across the city or state, both in terms of racial /ethnic background and life experience. For example, the Seattle Mayor's Youth Council reserves two spaces for homeless youth on the 38 member council. The North Carolina State Youth Council utilizes inten- tional outreach and marketing strategies to recruit diverse groups of young people. They do site visits and collaborate with organiza- tions that serve young people of color such as the NAACP and Hispanic groups. They offer scholarships for participation in their pro- grams to young people who otherwise would not be able to afford the opportunity. To ensure diversity in life experience, a number of youth councils recruit young people from community -based programs, rural communities, client -based youth -serv- ing agencies, juvenile justice programs and faith -based organizations. Connect with existing organizations to reach youth. At the local level, young people are typically recruited through schools, youth - serving agencies, community -based organizations and faith - based organizations. State youth councils also recruit young people from local youth councils or leadership groups. In areas where few programs exist that serve youth, youth councils rely on a nomination process to recruit young people and sometimes go out into the community to share information about the council and encourage young people to sign up. For example, New Mexico, a very rural state, enlists legislators to help identify young people in their districts to participate on the council. In addition, they require each young person to apply with an adult partner. 000 23 July 2007 r Building Effective Youth Councils Key 2: Ensure a Sound Infrastructure Secure adequate long-term they deem worthy. Budgets vary greatly funding due to large ranges in each of these items. Accurately assess funding needs. The primary costs for youth councils are staffing, transportation and meeting expenses. Some councils' primary costs also include grants they award to projects Funding Uncertainties & Shared Responsibilities Several youth councils have experienced funding cuts that al- most led to their demise. The Maine Legislative Youth Advisory Council ( MLYAC) had a near -death experience after its second year when its funding was cut back from two years to one. The MLYAC is staffed by both the Office for Policy and Legal Analysis (OPLA) — staff to the Maine State Legislature — and the Muskie School of Public Service (part of the University of Southern Maine). This design worked when there was funding to support the work. But when the funding was cut, the responsi- bility for supporting the Council shifted from government to the Muskie School of Public Service, leaving the Council with limited capacity to immerse members in policy training. It also left the Council in financial trouble. Since the MLYAC was a political entity, not a registered 501(03 nonprofit, a number of foundations were unable or unwilling to provide support, making it difficult for the Muskie School to raise the $50,00o annual budget. Fortunately, the Council was able to secure a major civic education grant to cover a portion of the budget. Legislators were instrumental in helping to revive the Council and instructed the Office for Policy and Legal Analy- sis to resume staffing the council. In 2004, legislation was passed to have the Muskie School of Public Service staff and fund MLYAC until June 2005, then shift staffing responsibilities to OPLA in July 2005 with the provision that staffing MLYAC would not interfere with the support OPLA provided to the legislature. Leaders of MLYAC suggested that in order to institutionalize the Council, it would be best for them to be housed and staffed inside of OPLA to put them in line and on target with other legislative committees. Youth councils that receive pro -bono staff time and cover a small geographic area (limiting transportation costs) can function effectively with relatively small budgets. For example, the Hampton's 24- member Youth Commission's general budget of $46,00o covers personnel, trainings and support, youth planners, travel to national meetings, transportation, printing, food and supplies. In comparison, state coun- cils or those with more members often incur higher costs. For example, the New Mexico Youth Alliance's $ioo,000 budget is modest because it must fully fund its staff and devote significant resources to covering transportation for its 112 mem- bers across a large, rural state. Lock in out -year funding as much as possible, using multiple sources if needed. Funding for youth councils comes from a variety of sources. Most youth councils receive government funding and some also receive funding from the private sector. The Hampton Youth Commission, for instance, receives its full budget from city government, while the North Carolina State Youth Council has been successful in raising corporate funds to support its work (particularly the Youth Legislative Assembly, a mock legislative session for youth). The North Carolina council also uses its final report, which includes bills created by young people, to help raise funds. • �4 The Forum for Youth Investment Select an administrative home Weigh the benefits of housing the council inside or outside of government. Most youth councils are housed inside government departments; some are housed inside nonprofit organizations; and a few are jointly run by governments and nonprofits as a public - private partnership. Each approach has its strengths and limitations. Housing a youth council in government helps facilitate access to government personnel and can provide built -in infrastructure and staff support. However, government personnel may not have as much experience in working with youth as some nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits may be better positioned to serve the range of their youth members' needs. A handful of youth councils, such as Maine and New Mexico, have formed public - private partnerships to jointly run their youth councils. The New Mexico Youth Alliance is financially supported by the New Mexico Office for Children, Youth and Families (providing access to the Governor, Children's Cabinet and legislators) but is housed inside the New Mexico Forum for Youth in Community, a statewide intermediary organization. This arrangement gives them the autonomy they need to be an independent voice for youth throughout the state. Connect to a coordinating body, rather than a single department. A final consideration is which government office a youth council should be connected with. Young people are served by multiple departments and agencies. Unfortunately, government structures are often fragmented and isolated. Depending on how the council is staffed and positioned (e.g., whether it reports to a Children's Cabinet or is charged to Building Effective Youth Councils make recommendations on a specified range of issues) housing a youth council in any one department or agency may limit its purview to the narrow range of issues addressed by that particular department. Youth councils often seek to avoid this limitation by attaching themselves to a neutral coordinating body that works across departmental lines, such as a Children's Cabinet. Some youth councils also seek to work with both the executive and legislative branches. The New Mexico Youth Alliance, for example, is attached to both the New Mexico Children's Cabinet and to the state legislature. Institutionalize the youth council so that it exists beyond a change in administration. One way to ensure that the youth council endures over time is to formalize it in legislation and to include a requirement that the council will remain in place regardless of who is in office. The Hampton Youth Commission is integrated into the ongoing operations of its local government as a result of being located inside the Coalition for Youth, which is a city department. The San Francisco Youth Commission was institutionalized by a ballot measure and city charter ammendment. Authorize the youth council to draft legislation. To secure the efficacy of a youth council, make sure its structure allows for deep engagement in the policy - making process. The Maine Legislative Youth Advisory Council has the distinction of being the only state youth council in the country that has the authority to introduce legislation. In 2004, the Council succeeded in getting legislation passed that raised the age from 21 to 23 to allow for continued support (i.e., room, board and education expenses) for foster care youth enrolled in college. 000 25 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils 3 Key 3: Provide a Supportive Work Environment Recruit the right staff Hire staffwith both a youth development background and a policy background. Staffing youth councils with people who understand the need to balance youth development with policy development, and who are trained in both areas, is critical to "We are the overall success of youth the youth commissioners' staff. We do their work. They tell us ... we are their legs inside city hall. Any good and effective youth leadership model would have adults being supportive and staffing them.99 — RACHELANTROBUS, San Francisco Youth Commission councils. Youth councils are typically staffed by one full -time director with support from youth council members and interns. Staff are responsible for recruiting and training young people, and helping them influence the policy - making process. As discussed previously, successful youth councils strategically blend youth de- velopment and policy devel- opment, leading to a stronger influence on the policy -mak- ing process. Striking this balance has a lot to do with staff choice. Youth councils run by youth workers often do a good job of meeting the needs of the individual young people but fail to have an influence on policy; whereas youth councils run by policy makers often do a good job at influencing policy but fail to solicit the perspectives of young people in an authentic manner. As the council's director often sets the tone for the work of the youth council, a good director should have skills in working with young people (often developed through direct service experience) and working with policy makers. Find creative ways to bring in additional expertise. Many youth councils struggle to find a director with both policy and youth development skills. To compensate, youth councils may bring in additional staff or utilize available resources to provide the missing elements. For example, in both Nebraska and San Francisco, directors with a youth work background utilize policy staff inside their organizations or inside state and local gov- ernment to assist in policy - related content planning for the youth council. These staff help train youth councils to navigate the policy- making process and provide access to policy makers and facilities in civic buildings. As noted on page 23, Maine solved its staffing needs by establishing a formal partnership between the Office for Policy and Legal Analysis (OPLA) and the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine. OPLA pro- vides the legislative policy training while the Muskie School organizes the Council, does follow -up and serves as a liaison between youth and adults to ensure power sharing. The director of the council felt this function was particularly important to make sure that adults don't dominate and to provide the space for young people to have a voice and act on their ideas. The Boston Mayor's Youth Council also partners with Northeastern University. Consider exploring how local colleges and universities can provide additional resource to your council. Create a strong home base Provide a dedicated space where members can do their work. One of the most important kinds of support young people need to be effectively 000 26 The Forum for Youth Investment engaged is a home base — a place where they find stability in the staff and the surroundings, and where they have the option of working separately or with others. Neighborhood -based youth leadership programs often rely on schools, nonprofits or faith organizations to provide a dedicated space where youth leaders can meet to get work done in between meetings. Creating a home base for city or statewide youth councils, who must bring together young people from different schools, neighborhoods and /or cities, is a challenge but one that must be overcome. Plan (and budget)forface-to- face meetings. For a youth council to operate, members need to spend time together. This is a relatively easy proposition for city youth councils — simply set a meeting time and place. The Arizona Governor's Youth Commission The Arizona Governor's Youth Commission has kept the com- mission members connected between meetings by: Convening the Youth Com- mission via conference calls; Sending out weekly emails with best practices, news updates and resources; Creating a private Web site for the youth commission where they post meeting information, minutes, an- nouncements, current and past projects, a member roster, weekly email log, directions to events, etc. State youth councils face additional challenges. How do you get young people from across the state together often enough to collaborate on their work? State youth council meetings require significant funding allocations to cover transportation costs for their members. States also have to think through the challenges of asking minors to travel outside of their communities. Use technology to create real - time connections. Some youth councils have developed technological solutions to their communications challenges, utilizing conference calls, email, e -lists and Web sites as ways to keep members Building Effective Youth Councils connected between face -to -face meetings. For example, Arizona's Governor's Youth Commission has a Web site created specifically for members of the commission. On the site, members can find meeting information, directions to events, information about current and past projects, minutes of past meetings, meeting agendas, contact information for staff and commission members, membership roster, announcements, email updates and funding opportunities. Technological solutions are cost effective, but they only work when most young people have easy access to the Internet. Make sure that council members have a strong base back home. Young people from low- income or rural neighborhoods report that it is important for them to have a) experience working as a youth leader back home and b) an individual or organization back home to help them anticipate and interpret their experiences on state or even city- wide youth councils. Youth council staff members often reach out to other youth organizations and leadership groups to help them recruit council members. These connections are also an important way to support young people and facilitate their meaningful engagement. All youth council staff, but especially those operating at the state level, should ensure that youth council members have a solid home base by forming working relationships with point people within the organizations they use to recruit youth. As an ongoing liaison, the program coordinator communicates with the youth council director and is responsible for preparing youth council members, transporting them to meetings, communicating with young people on their work between meetings, and making logistical connections for youth council members to help them get their work done. 000 27 July 2007 R2 Key 4: Build Youth Capacity Provide ongoing training and support Provide skill - building training for youth members. Training, training and more training is the name of the game. Training is perhaps the most critical function of staff, yet it is also an area that What Kinds of Training Are Most Useful? • Policy training for youth coun- cil members on all aspects of the policy- making process • Legislative advocacy strategies • Communications skills for various audiences (e.g., policy makers, the media, the broader public) • Research skills (e.g., topic re- search, basic statistics and data analysis, survey development) • Interviewing and focus group skills • Networking and collaboration • Community mobilization and youth outreach strategies • Team - building and teamwork skills • Project and time t many youth councils struggle with. Training youth council members and the adults who work with them is critical to helping young people develop leadership and life skills. Youth will also need training to understand policy issues, to work with policy makers and to navigate the policy making process. One way to ensure that young people are well prepared for youth council responsibilties is to work with the the broader youth development /civic managemen F engagement community to make sure that young people have ample opportunities to build and apply communication, planning, teamwork, research and analytical skills. Provide orientation and training for adults. As they are responsible for training youth members, it is important to remember that adult staff often can benefit from training themselves. This is particularly true when a staffer lacks experience and skills in either policy making or youth development (see page 26). See the resources section for 00. 28 Building Effective Youth Councils materials designed for adults who are new to working with youth (page 39)• Identify authentic ways to integrate training into the council's work. Youth councils typically hold retreats, summer leadership camps and quarterly meetings to train young people, do team - building work and focus on the substance of their policy work. Youth council staff often collaborate with nonprofit youth development agencies, policy advocacy groups and even legislators to provide the trainings. There is a constant need to balance and intersperse training with action. The North Carolina State Youth Councils undergoes a six -month planning and training process to build their skills and confidence in interacting with state policy makers. The Council is trained by the director of the Council, past student leaders, alumni of the Youth Legislative Assembly and legislators. Similarly, the Nebraska Governor's Youth Advisory Council utilizes legislative aids to provide training to the council on how to present to the legislature. They also hold retreats on leadership training, advocacy strategies and how to engage the media. Make sure young people have the skills needed to do the tasks at hand. Often making sure young people are properly trained is a matter of timing. Youth council members will have a lot to learn, so prioritize training around upcoming tasks. Work with young people to make sure that they know what to anticipate before they take on a new task, especially a visible one. Be sure that they have the skills needed to do the job. Planned training sessions can be a key component for skill building, but be prepared to do real -time skill building and to identify a range of roles that allow The Forum for Youth Investment members to use their strengths while building new skills. Provide informal coaching and support. Ensuring that young people are trained and equipped to be policy analysts, advocates and effectively implemented youth -adult teams in its Youth Alliance, requiring prospective Youth Alliance members to apply with an adult partner who would commit to serve as a mentor, connect the young people to resources in the community, mediate relationships with other adults in the community, help the young people reflect on their Youth Alliance experience as well as share their own experiences, and provide Building Effective Youth Councils transportation. These teams help provide a home base for youth who don't have access to community organizations. One challenge in using this strategy is assigning clear roles to adult sponsors and providing adequate training for them in youth -adult partnerships, youth empowerment and youth development. Create a core team if necessary. It may not be possible to engage all members equally, which is especially true for councils that have large numbers of members spread across a wide geographic area. Youth council staff must work to avoid two possibilities: 1) that engagement, especially between meetings, is so light and sporadic that the staff end up doing the work and 2) that engagement is uneven. A few actively engaged youth might take more initiative than the others, creating an informal but visible two- tiered system. One solution to this problem is to openly call for a small group of young people to take on differential leadership roles. These young people can apply, volunteer or be appointed by their peers. There can be scheduled rotations or reelections to ensure that those who want to play a deeper role can. These rotations signal to new members that there are opportunities for greater recognition and engagement. Consider an age -based tiered system of engagement as well. Use work teams as a capacity - building and workload - sharing strategy. Several youth councils create leadership positions on the council (usually through committees) to get their work done between meetings. Others use teams as a way to provide on -task coaching and to pair members with different skill strengths and needs. Teams also can maintain engagement by giving members an opportunity to work with a smaller group of youth and adults and /or an opportunity to work on a specific project that interests them. 000 29 July 2007 true representatives of "We never their peers is clearly put a challenge. Yet staff a young person must keep in mind in a position to an equally important challenge: to support embarrass him youth members in their personal development. or herself. If Staff must provide youth council members with young people guidance, supervision haven't been and, frequently, life coaching. Recruiting ve n the diverse members requires gi being prepared to deal opportunity with diverse needs. Young people from low- and/or training income neighborhoods to be properly or low- performing schools frequently prepared for the have deep insights into problems and powerful tasks you are recommendations for change. But they may also asking of them, have personal challenges and basic skill deficits don't ask .' 9 that can hamper their full participation if not met. — RICH LOLL, former Director, Alternatives Inc, Utilize teams Hampton, VA Create youth -adult teams. New Mexico has effectively implemented youth -adult teams in its Youth Alliance, requiring prospective Youth Alliance members to apply with an adult partner who would commit to serve as a mentor, connect the young people to resources in the community, mediate relationships with other adults in the community, help the young people reflect on their Youth Alliance experience as well as share their own experiences, and provide Building Effective Youth Councils transportation. These teams help provide a home base for youth who don't have access to community organizations. One challenge in using this strategy is assigning clear roles to adult sponsors and providing adequate training for them in youth -adult partnerships, youth empowerment and youth development. Create a core team if necessary. It may not be possible to engage all members equally, which is especially true for councils that have large numbers of members spread across a wide geographic area. Youth council staff must work to avoid two possibilities: 1) that engagement, especially between meetings, is so light and sporadic that the staff end up doing the work and 2) that engagement is uneven. A few actively engaged youth might take more initiative than the others, creating an informal but visible two- tiered system. One solution to this problem is to openly call for a small group of young people to take on differential leadership roles. These young people can apply, volunteer or be appointed by their peers. There can be scheduled rotations or reelections to ensure that those who want to play a deeper role can. These rotations signal to new members that there are opportunities for greater recognition and engagement. Consider an age -based tiered system of engagement as well. Use work teams as a capacity - building and workload - sharing strategy. Several youth councils create leadership positions on the council (usually through committees) to get their work done between meetings. Others use teams as a way to provide on -task coaching and to pair members with different skill strengths and needs. Teams also can maintain engagement by giving members an opportunity to work with a smaller group of youth and adults and /or an opportunity to work on a specific project that interests them. 000 29 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils Key 5: Deepen Youth Motivation Help youth identify core issues Reconcile the concerns and interests of youth council members with political realities. The members you recruit should be selected because they have skills and passions. Don't let the legislative agenda or the mayor's or governor's priorities overly determine the discussions Nashville's 3 E's Framework Helps and work of the Youth Focus their Passions council. Allow young people Community IMPACT! in Nashville has become the opportunity a consistent feeder system for the Nashville to tackle the Youth Advisory Council. Young people in issues that they East Nashville, a high poverty, predominantly identify as most African - American, low- income neighborhood, pressing in their confront the barriers to their future success families, schools, on a daily basis. They come to Community neighborhoods IMPACT! with immediate concerns. These and broader concerns, however, almost always fit under one communities. of CI!'s three E's for community change — Eco- Yet in order to nomics, Education and Environment. effectively make change, a youth Young people and adult staff work together council must to identify critical issues within that frame- strategically work to focus on, and return to the framework connect its issues regularly in order to keep their individual to a policy agenda projects and campaigns grounded in a systemic that can be understanding of root causes and their overall championed with community change agenda. Over the past three policy makers. years, Youth Mobilizers have researched the Make sure the impact of predatory lending practices on their issues your community (and worked to close down check South council cashing vendors and increase EITC filings) and focuses on are have documented the reasons for poor college both significant attendance among East Nashville students. to its members, They have taken these issues into citywide well researched discussions as representatives of East Nashville (not anecdotal) youth. and grounded in political reality. Connect immediate issues to broader systemic challenges. Connecting immediate issues to root causes is a critical process for both adults and young people engaged in community change. Two things are critical in helping to move this process along. First, a theoretical and historical frame of reference can help people understand the full scope of the issue and how it relates to other community challenges and assets. It can also help link local neighborhood realities to city, state and national policy issues, and create natural bridges between the young people's work and the agendas of other organizations and initiatives in the community. Make sure members do their homework. The second critical component to understanding issues and causes is conducting research. Members' experiences are valuable, but youth and adult members can often lack historical perspective and /or be unaware of facts or trends. Research helps youth and adults deepen their knowledge about issues, understand root causes, appreciate alternative perspectives and develop effective arguments and responses. Find creative ways to help youth collect and document the opinions of the broader youth community. Surveys are a popular method of collecting youth voices and can be a quick way to garner the opinions of young people. Ideally, young people will help design the survey instrument and will think through where, when and how the survey will be administered. For example, the Hampton Youth Commission surveys its peers and uses this information to inform the city plan. Likewise, New Mexico has surveyed young people two years in a row. The Youth Alliance linked its survey directly 0 • 30 The Forum for Youth Investment to the issues that policy makers have made a priority in the state. Similarly, the San Francisco Youth Commission runs YouthVOTE, a citywide voter education and mock election that drives the platform of the Youth Commission. Help youth understand strategies for policy change Be sure youth know whatformal roles the council is designed to play. There is significant variation in the roles played by different youth councils in the policy - making process. Some have a light advisory role, some take on substantial organizing and advocacy roles, others work directly with policy makers to develop and advance youth policies. Use the council's charter or mission statement as the starting point for discussions about the purpose of the council and the opportunities for access provided. Determine which things the youth council will need to do to equip itself with the tools needed to ultimately influence public policy. This decision will help the council focus its time and resources in ways that prepare it to inform policy with relevant and timely information. The lack of an intentional focus on policy (e.g., review and researching bills) could result in recommendations that are disconnected from the larger policy context. Maine has perhaps the most clearly articulated policy roles, including advising policy makers on proposed and pending legislation, reviewing state budget expenditures and addressing policy matters related to youth. They are also required to examine a specific set of issues such as education, youth access to services on a municipal and statewide basis, and strategies to increase youth participation in municipal and state government. Help members understand how to leverage formal and informal access. Most youth councils utilize both formal (e.g., submitting testimony) and informal (e.g., setting up lunches to meet Building Effective Youth Councils with policy makers) approaches. Strong youth councils utilize both approaches strategically. Strong youth councils create formal roles with policy makers to yield the greatest impact on policy. They utilize informal roles to help build relationships with policy makers and to support policy makers when called upon to be a resource. For example, in Nebraska, youth council members have lunches with their legislators. In this informal setting, they get time to discuss issues and have found the lunches to be among their most productive activities. The youth council members get heard and the policy makers enjoy the one -on -one interaction with the young people. Overemphasizing formal interaction can lead policy makers to view the youth council as just another interest group to be avoided, manipulated or placated. Overemphasizing informal interactions, however, can lead to "feel good" councils that are pleasant to both policy makers and youth but do little to influence policy. Effective youth councils facilitate timely opportunities for policy makers to hear directly from youth councils before they make decisions that affect them. Be sure that young people understand that change takes time. It took Mayor Menino's Youth Council four years to get the legislature to reduce the age at which youth can get a state ID card, even with his support. Other types of policy change — regulatory or administrative changes — can be faster. Be sure that young people understand the full range of strategies at their disposal. 000 31 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils Key 6: Negotiate Opportunities for Access Arrange Authentic Access to Policy Makers "As the Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council, we strive to be a voice for youth, examine issues of importance to state legislators, adults and young people.99 — MISSION STATEMENT, Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council Cultivate ownership and accountability in the council by creating shared leadership opportunities between youth council members and policy makers. Some youth councils are structured to include policy makers as members. For example, in Maine, the Youth Advisory Council consists of four legislators (two members of the Senate and two members of the House of Representatives) and 18 youth members — all appointed by Senate and House leadership. The Council is co- chaired by a member of the Legislature and a youth member. The legislative chair position alternates every two years between the House and the Senate. Legislators and youth council members work together to identify and champion issues. A strength of this model is engaging legislators in an authentic way with young people by integrating them into the structure of the Council. Similarly, the North Carolina State Youth Council is governed by the State Youth Advisory Council that has io members appointed from the legislature by the governor, as well as io young people from the State Youth Council. Bring members into the policy making process. Special meetings between the council and elected officials ensure that youth are heard, but do not provide a realistic picture of how government works. The most effective youth councils utilize opportunities to bring young people together in policy settings for the purpose of allowing them to speak out on issues important to them and to provide hands -on experience with the policy - making process. The benefit is twofold: Young people build their civic knowledge and skills by experiencing the policy- making process firsthand. Policy makers get the rare opportunity to see young people where they normally don't — in the halls of government — which helps them to connect with young people as their constituency rather than as invisible, non- voting citizens. Hire a youth liaison. A youth liaison can often facilitate interactions between youth councils and the policy- making bodies they advise. In New Mexico, the Children, Youth and Families Department hired a youth liaison to work in their state office to help bridge the Children's Cabinet and the Youth Alliance. The youth liaison position was created to strengthen communications and transfer information between the Children's Cabinet and the Youth Alliance. Facilitate concrete opportunities for the youth council to advise top officials. A subgroup of the New Mexico Youth Alliance met directly with the Governor, who sought their input on a range of issues, including school - based health centers. Hearing how these centers made a difference in the lives of the Youth Alliance members made a significant impact on the Governor's thinking, securing his support to double the number of school -based health centers across the state. Similarly, in Nebraska, youth council members informed legislators that foster care youth were not aware of policies affecting them. As a result, in 2005 the council was involved in drafting a resolution that created a foster youth bill of rights, which was adopted by the Legislature. 000 32 The Forum for Youth Investment Duties of the Mai Legislative Youth A Council Other youth councils move from such "one- shot" interactions to structuring routine interactions that ne allow for greater depth. In dvisory Hampton, the Director of the City Planning Depart- • Advise the Legislature on proposed and pending legislation, state budget expenditures and policy matters related to youth. • Advise the legislative joint standing committees and study commissions, com- mittees and task forces on issues related to youth. • Conduct periodic semi- nars on leadership, government and the Legislature. • Report annually to the Legislature. ment and the Director of the Coalition for Youth (a city department), regularly attend the youth commission meetings and communicate the feedback they hear to other government officials. Note that some of these access issues are a matter of laying the foundation well, particularly for legislated councils. Enabling legisla- tion can explicitly create a powerful place in local government structures for a youth council. Integrate youth council members into government departments and agencies by pairing them with state directors. Some youth councils go beyond simply providing advice by placing members into government departments. The Missouri Youth Cabinet assigned members to work directly with the directors of 19 state departments and three state task forces for their full two -year term. Similarly, the Hampton City Planning Department hires two Youth Planners that staff the Hampton Youth Commission (HYC) and report to the Director of the City Planning Department. Youth Planners play an integral role in helping to move the work of the HYC by connecting the HYC to the city department. Youth Planners are responsible for integrating HYC's work into the overall city plan and for implementing the youth component of the city plan. Commission the youth council to develop the youth component of city and state plans. The Hampton 0110 33 Building Effective Youth Councils Youth Commission (HYC) writes the youth component of the Hampton Community Plan. While HYC is perhaps the first local youth council in the country to develop a plan for young people that is adopted into the overall city plan for the community, a number of Mayor's Youth Councils are taking part in a Youth Master Planning process supported by the National League of Cities. This process involves the full range of stakeholders at the local level setting policy priorities for the community at large, including action steps to improve the lives of young people. In fact, the Des Moines Youth Advisory Board is looking to strengthen its role in policy by spearheading a Youth Master Planning process for the city. Create a visible public presence Develop a communications plan. In addition to allowing youth to be heard by policy makers, youth councils can play an important role by helping ensure youth voices are heard by the public at large. To reach the general public, youth councils use typical media outreach strategies: writing letters to newspaper editors, holding press conferences and producing press releases. They also use Web sites to inform the public about their work. Youth councils often utilize communications capacity within government offices to help craft their messages and reach out to state and local media. Most youth councils distribute year -end reports to policy makers that highlight the activities of the council and provide policy recommendations. Facilitate opportunities for youth council members to testify at public hearings. The New Mexico Youth Alliance played a role in establishing the Next Generation Fund, a state endowment for positive youth development programs. Approximately 40 Youth Alliance members attended, including one who testified along with the former First Lady July 2007 of New Mexico and the New Mexico Community Foundation at a hearing on the Fund. The bill passed and the Youth Alliance continues to work each year to ensure that state investments are made in the endowment. As the Youth Alliance demonstrated, public hearings are a great opportunity for youth councils to both affect policy changes and establish a visible public presence. Facilitate Connections to Youth Constituents Be intentional about creating a "ripple effect." Plan for how to expand the council's impact beyond the group of young people directly involved as council members. Be intentional about bringing information into the council from the community and taking information back out into that community. This is particularly important for state youth councils, which need intentional strategies to represent the diverse views of young people in communities across the state. North Carolina has the most extensive reach and support structure for its youth council work: Its state council builds off of a network of local youth councils. The State Youth Council is composed of representatives from 25 local youth council groups. This is a useful model to consider for building a sustainable structure that creates a revolving door for youth leadership and engages youth at a grassroots level. Convene the broader community of youth to discuss their issues and develop a policy agenda. The Hampton Youth Commission holds a series of public meetings and focus groups with youth in their city to develop recommendations for the youth component of the city plan. The Commission also holds regular meetings that are open to youth in their community. The North Carolina State Youth Council convenes young people from across the state for a three -day mock legislative Building Effective Youth Councils session, called the Youth Legislative Assembly, where high school students voice their opinions on issues concerning young people. Bills are submitted in a final report that is distributed to the governor, legislators and other interested individuals. What makes this program unique is that young people outside of the council from across the state are invited to participate in the Youth Legislative Assembly to provide input to legislation and to identify issues of concern to youth. Connect the broader community of youth to resources and information. Some youth councils play an important role connecting young people in their city or state to available services and opportunities. For example, the Boston Mayor's Youth Council provides comprehensive information to young people about programs and services in their community through the Mayor's YOUTHLINE. The YOUTHLINE provides young people in Boston with a confidential telephone /computer service that connects them with resources in their community and provides peer counseling to youth. The YOUTHLINE is staffed by trained high school and college students, and utilizes a geographically -based computer system that maintains a database of all youth programs and services in the city, so callers are able to find neighborhood and citywide services. Link with other youth engagement strategies. Youth councils are just one of many strategies for youth civic engagement. Ideally, individual youth council members come from, and are simultaneously engaged in, other groups. The youth council should make every effort to reach out formally to other groups to make sure that they are representing the broadest possible base. 000 34 The Forum for Youth Investment What Next? We hope the main questions about youth councils — Why? What? and How? — have been answered in this guide. We have provided a framework for thinking about youth engagement; concrete, specific and practical advice for establishing and strengthening youth councils; examples from the field; and additional resources. Now it is up to you — community lead- ers, young people, elected officials, youth council staffers — to do the challenging work of actually creating and sustaining effective youth councils. This requires hard work: laying the foundation, erecting the infrastructure, recruiting diverse and capable young people, supporting the ac- tion of these young people, building their capacity, deepening their motivation and negotiating their access. Even for the most effective youth council, change will be slow and incremental. Yet over time, as youth councils embed themselves in the policy - making process, they will become an integral part of how state and local governments set policy and make decisions. This increase in mean- ingful youth engagement will lead to more and better policies to address the issues that matter to young people. This will mean that more young people are Ready by 21TM: ready for college, work and life. As youth councils and the research about them grow and evolve, so do our expertise, resources and advice. Visit the Forum's Web site at http: / /www.forumfyi.org for up -to -date case studies, resource recommendations and tools as we find or develop them. Also please contact us (youth @forumfyi.org) with any resources or updates you'd like to contribute to the site or with general questions and com- Building Effective Youth Councils ments about this guide, youth councils and youth engagement. Finally, in addition to disseminating ideas and conducting research and analysis, the Forum for Youth Investment advises, consults, trains, makes connections for and offers long -term support to state and local leaders. If you would like support in creating a youth council through informal conversations or through more formal contractual work, please contact the Forum (youth a forumfyi.org). 000 35 July 2007 References • America's Promise Alliance. (2oo6). Every Child, Every Promise: Investing in Our Young People. Washington, DC: America's Promise. • Civic and Policy Engagement of Youth Web site. National Conference of State Leg- islatures. www.ncsl.org /programs /eyf /engagement.htm • Community IMPACT! USA. USA Youth Action Principles. • Foster, Lisa K., Bieck, Becky, & Dienst, Alicia. (2005). Involving Youth in Policy - making and Coordinating Youth Policy: State -Level Structures in California and Other States. Sacramento, CA: California Research Bureau. Retrieved online at www. library .ca.gov /crb /05/05/05- 005.pdf • Gambone, Michelle, Klein, Adena, & Connell, James. (2002). Finding Out What Matters for Youth: Testing Key Links in a Community Action Framework for Youth Development. Youth Development Strategies Inc and the Institute for Re- search and Reform in Education. • Hampton Youth Commission. (2007). Shaping the Future: Working Together: Changing Communities, a manual on how to start or improve your own youth commission. Hampton, VA: Hampton Youth Commission. • Haid, P, Marques, Elder C., & Brown, Jon. (1999)• Re focusing the Lens: Assessing the Challenge of Youth Involvement in Public Policy. Ottawa, Canada: Institute on Governance. Retrieved online at www.atthetable.org/images/Details/Handouts- rad5B657.pdf. • Irby, M., Ferber, T., Pittman, K., with J. Tolman, & N. Yohalem. (2001). Youth Ac- tion: Youth Contributing to Communities, Communities Supporting Youth. Com- munity & Youth Development Series (6). Takoma Park, MD: The Forum for Youth Investment, International Youth Foundation. • Justinianno, Jonna & Scherer, Cynthia. (2001). Youth Voice: A Guide for Engag- ing Youth in Leadership and Decision - making in Service- Learning Programs. Washington, DC: Points of Light Foundation. Retrieved online at www.service- learning.org/filemanager/dovvnload/7/YVGWde.pdf. • Mohamed, Inca A. & Wheeler, Wendy. (2oo1). Broadening the Bounds of Youth Development: Youth As Engaged Citizens. Chevy Chase, MD: The Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development. Retrieved online at www.theinno- vationcenter.org/pdfs/Broadening _ the_Bounds.pdf. • National League of Cities & Institute for Youth, Education, and Families. (2002). Action Kit for Municipal Leaders: Promoting Youth Participation — Issue #3. Washington, DC: National League of Cities. Retrieved online at www.nlc.org/con- tent/Files/IYEF-Action%2oKit-Youth%2oPart.pdf. • Pearson, Sarah S. & Voke, Heather M. (2003). Building an Effective Citizenry: Lessons learned from initiatives in Youth Engagement. Washington, DC: Ameri- can Youth Policy Forum. Retrieved online at www.aypf.org /publications /building- an- effective- citizenry.pdf. • Pittman, K., Martin, S., Williams, A., & Yohalem, N. (2007). Core Principles for Engaging Young People in Community Change. Washington, D.C.: The Forum for Youth Investment, Impact Strategies, Inc. 00036 so ci • 1��I� C] ..I 4 �F Resources State Youth Councils: Basic Info City Youth Councils: Basic Info Additional Resources Youth Council Enabling Legislation Youth Council Application Forms State Youth Councils: Basic Info Arizona Governor's Youth Commission Established: 1989 by executive order Bodies the Council advises: • Governor • Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families • Arizona Taskforce on Youth Development Membership: • 40 youth members in 10th -12th grade • 1 -year term • Formal application process • Meets 4 times per year Structure: Housed inside the Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families in the Division for Com- munity and Youth Development The Council's one full -time staff person is supported by 2 addition- al adult staff who help coordinate and implement the work of the Council Funding sources: • Governor's office • Safe and Drug Free Schools • Arizona Parent's Commission Contact Information: Youth Development Program Administrator (602) 542 -3489 Web site: www.gocyf.az.gov Building Effective Youth Councils State of Iowa Youth Action Committee Established: 2001 Bodies the Council advises: • Governor • Other state policy makers Membership: • 20 -25 members • 15 -19 year olds (typically 10th -12th grade) • Intentional recruitment, screen- ing and interview process • Meets once a month Structure: Housed under the umbrella of the Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development The Council is staffed by 1 adult and is divided into 3 commit- tees: an executive committee and 2 issue - specific committees (public relations and legislative) Funding sources: • Department of Public Health Federal Block Grant for Sub- stance Abuses; in -kind staff support from the Iowa Collabo- ration for Youth Development Contact Information: Amy Croll Department of Human Rights Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Lucas State Office Bldg, 2nd Floor Des Moines, Iowa 50319 (515) 281 -5999 Web site: www.iowaspromise.org * 40 The Forum for Youth Investment Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council Established: 2007 Bodies the Council advises: • Legislative joint standing commit- tees • Commissions • Task forces of the Legislature Membership: • Up to 21 youth members ages 14 -19 • 1 senator • 1 representative • Chair of the Louisiana Commis- sion on Civic Education • State Superintendent • 2 -year term Structure: Housed under the auspices of the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education Staffed by legislative staff Funding sources: • The Louisiana Commission on Civic Education may seek, accept and expend donations, appropria- tions and grants on behalf of the Youth Council. Contact Information: Sherri Breaux Chief Legislative Researcher Louisiana Senate PO Box 94183 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804 (225) 342 -6145 Email: breauxs @leg is. state. la. us Web site: to be developed Building Effective Youth Councils Maine Legislative Advisory Council Established: 2002 Bodies the Council advises: • State Legislature • President of the Senate • Speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives Membership: • 16 youth • 2 Senators • 2 State Representatives • 5 adults (non- voting members) • Secondary and post- secondary students • 2 -year term • 8 youth appointed by Speaker of the House and 8 youth appointed by the President of the Senate • Meets once a month Structure: Housed inside the Office of Policy and Legislative Analysis with support from the Muskie School of Public Service (part of the Univer- sity of Southern Maine) Staffed by OPLA. Funding sources: • Maine Legislature ($30,000) Contact Information: Patrick Norton, Director Email: Patrick .Norton @legislator.maine.gov Brenna Byrne, Legislative Researcher Email: Brenna .Byrne @legislator.maine.gov Office of Policy and Legislative Analysis Maine State Legislature 13 State House Station, Room 215, Cross State Office Building Augusta, Maine 04333; (207) 287 -1670 Web site: www.maine.gov/education/mecitizen- shiped/youth/lyac.html # 41 July 2007 Maryland Youth Council Established: 2006 Bodies the Council advises: • Children's Cabinet • Governor Membership: • 24 youth, ages 13 -19 • Selected by the Executive Director of the Office for Children with concurrence of the Governor • To the extent possible, selected from established public and private youth councils and youth empowerment organizations Structure: Housed in and staffed by the Governor's Office for Children Funding sources: • Governor's Office for Children Contact Information: Mary Beth Stapleton Director of Positive Youth Outcomes Governor's Office for Children 301 West Preston Street, Suite 1502 Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 767 -3526 Email: mstapleton @goc.state.md.us Building Effective Youth Councils Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum Established: 2007 Bodies the Council advises: • State Legislature Membership: • 21 members • Each state senator appoints 1 member • 1 -year term, may be reappointed • Must be enrolled in public school • Must be in graders 9 -12 Structure: May employ a person to provide administrative support for the Forum Funding sources: • May accept gifts, grants and donations from any source for the support of the Forum Contact Information: State Senator Valerie Wiener Email: vwiener @sen.state.nv.us 0 42 The Forum for Youth Investment New Hampshire Youth Advisory Council Established: 2006 Bodies the Council advises: • Legislative joint standing commit- tees • Commissions • Task forces of the Legislature Membersr Structure: lip: 21 members: 1 representative, 1 senator, 19 youth ages 15 - 22 2 public hearings per year 2 -year term Meets 4 times a year with 2 public hearings per year Housed in the Legislature with staff support from the New Hamp- shire Alliance for Civic Engage- ment Funding sources: • New Hampshire Alliance for Civic Engagement • Secretary of State's Office Contact Information: Julie Yerkes Civic Education Programs Manager New Hampshire Institute of Politics SaintAnselm College 100 SaintAnselm Drive Manchester, New Hampshire 03102 (603) 222 -4115 Email: jyerkes @anselm.edu Building Effective Youth Councils New Mexico Youth Alliance Established: 2003 by the Youth Council Act (made permanent 2005) Bodies the Council advises: • Governor • Lt. Governor • New Mexico Children's Cabinet • State Legislature Membersh Structure: ip: 112 members (1 representative from each district) Youth members are aged 14 -22 Formal application process, legisla tors also recommend youth Up to 2 -year term Meets 4 times per year Housed inside a nonprofit organi- zation — the New Mexico Forum for Youth in Community Staffed by 1 full -time staff person Funding sources: • Children, Youth and Families Department Contact Information: Lanny Leyba, Director 924 Park Avenue SW, Suite D Albuquerque, NM 87102 (505) 821 -3574 Web site: www.nmforumforyouth.orglyouth_alli- ance.htm * 43 July 2007 North Carolina Youth Advisory Council and State Youth Council Established: 1970 Bodies the Council advises: • Governor • North Carolina General Assembly • State Boards and Commissions Membership: • SYC: 300 members drawn from local councils • NCYAC: 20 members (10 youth from SYC, 10 adults appointed by the governor) • Meets 4 times per year Structure: • Housed inside State Department of Administration under the Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office • Staffed by 1 director and 4 youth leaders • Youth council work involves 3 layers: 25 local youth councils, the State Youth Council (SYC) and the Youth Advisory Council (NCYAC) • NCYAC provides support and ad- vice to SYC and local councils and administrative oversight to SYC • SYC represents the local youth councils and members are re- cruited from these councils • SYC differs from NCYAC in that its primary responsibility is to consider problems affecting youth and recommend solutions to those problems to State and local government Funding sources: • North Carolina General Assembly • Corporate Support Contact Information: Cynthia Giles 217 W. Jones Street, 2nd Floor Raleigh, NC 27699 (919) 733 -9296 Web site: www.doa.state.nc.uslyaio Building Effective Youth Councils Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council Established: 2005 by Senate Bill 5254 (modi fied in 2007 by House Bill 1052) Bodies the Council advises: • State Legislature and its standing committees, study commissions and task force Membership: • 22 members • 14 —18 years old • 2 -year term • Students apply directly for a position and submit their applica- tions to the Lieutenant Governor's Office • Meets 2 to 6 times per year • Can hold up to 2 public hearings on issues of its choice Structure: Housed in the office of the Lieu- tenant Governor in partnership with OSPI and the legislature Funding sources: • Support for meetings comes out of the legislative budget for the Senate • Funding from other sources is accepted but not solicited • A half -time staff is funded through OSPI and other staffing is on a volunteer basis Contact Information: Kate Berry, LYAC Chair lyac @leg.wa.gov Web site: www.leg.wa.gov /Legislature /LYAC/ 0 44 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils City Youth Councils: Basic Info Boston Mayor's Youth Council Des Moines Youth Advisory Board (Massachusetts) (Iowa) Established: 1994 Established: 1993 Bodies the Council advises: Bodies the Council advises: • Mayor City Council • City Officials (police commission- City Departments er, human services chief, school City Boards superintendent) State of Iowa • Youth Advisory Council Membership: • 40 members Membership: • 11 th -12th grade • 15 youth: 7 representing schools, 3 • 1 -year term representing community organizations, 5 • Formal application process representing the community at -large • Meets twice per month • 7 adults representating the city (parks /rec- reation), the school district, business (young Structure: professionals from the chamber) and com- • Housed inside Mayor's office munity organizations (YMCA, Youth Leader- ship Initiative and Homeless youth) as well Funding sources: a liason from the City Manager's office • Not available Youth aged under 19 must be in high school and may serve until graduation with a 15 -51 Contact Information: month term limit Patty McMahon Adults serve a 3 -year term (617) 635 -4490 Board meets monthly and all members Web site: www.bostonyouthzone.com /myc serve on at least 1 committee Structure: Housed inside city government and serves as a city council commission Receives staff assistance from the City Manager's office Board has 4 youth officers (chair, vice - chair, secretary and treasurer) and 4 committees (executive, policy, fundraising and commu- nity engagement) that meet monthly Funding sources: • The city appropriated up to $8,000 for FY 08 • Youth -led fundraising Contact Information: City Clerks Office P.O. Box 10326 Des Moines, IA 50306 Web site: www.dmgov.org /youth <https : / /smtp.dmps.kl2. ia.us/exchweb/bin/redirasp?URL=http://www.dmgov. org /youth> 0 45 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils Grand Rapids Mayor's Youth Hampton Youth Commission Council (Michigan) (Virginia) Established: 1999 Established: 1997 Bodies the Council advises: Bodies the Council advises: • Mayor and City Commission • Mayor • West Michigan State Legislators • City Council • School Board Membership: • City Planning Commission • 15 Youth: 5 from each of the city's 3 wards Membership: • 9th -12th grade • 25 members • Meets monthly with the Mayor and • 9th -12th grade twice per term with their own city • 2 -year term commissioners • Formal application process • Coucil President presents the • 2 or more meetings per month MYC annual report to the City Commision Structure: • Housed in the Coalition for Youth, a Structure: separate city department • Managed and staffed by the City • Staffed by a director, 3 youth staff, of Grand Rapids' Office of Chil- including 2 youth city planners dren, Youth & Families who are hired by the City Planning Department and responsible for integrating HYC's work into the Funding sources: overall city plan and implementing • Private donations and sponsors the youth component of the city plan • 3 committees that meet twice a Contact Information: month, each committee addressing Shannon L. Harris 2 of the 6 key youth issues of the Program Coordinator Youth Component of the Community 300 Monroe Street, Suite 480 Plan: Caring Relationships; Youth Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 Share Leadership; Essential Life (616) 456 -3558 Skills; Career Preparation; Getting Email: sharris @grcity.us Around; and Places to Go, Things to Web site: www.grcity.us /ocyf /myc Do (currently focused on building a Teen Center) Funding sources: • General Fund Contact Information: Cindy Carlson Director, Hampton Coalition for Youth 22 Lincoln Street Hampton, VA 23669 (757) 728 -3280 Email: ccarlson @hampton.gov Web site: www.hampton.gov /youth www.areyouinthegame.com 0 46 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils Nashville Mayor's Youth San Francisco Youth Commission Council (Tennessee) (California) Established: 1999 Established: 1995 by City Charter Amendment, Prop F Bodies the Council advises: • Mayor Bodies the Council advises: • Local boards and commissions • Mayor • City departments • Board of Supervisors • Other city officials • City departments Membership: Membership: • 32 members • 17 members • 11 th -12th grade • 12 -23 years old • 1 -year term • Applications reviewed by council, • Meets monthly members officially appointed by the • Quarterly meetings with the Mayor Board of Supervisors and the Mayor • Meets twice a month Structure: • Housed inside the Mayor's office Structure: • Committee meetings and other • Housed in City Hall, operating under events require approximately 2 the clerk of the Board of Supervisors hours per week after school from • Staff of 3: director, policy coordinator members and program coordinator • According to the City Charter that cre- Funding sources: ated the Commission, it can only meet • Not available under quorum • Steering committee assigns work, sets Contact Information: priorities, distributes information and Sherica Clark leverages committee opportunities Mayor's Office of Children and Youth • 4 other standing committees are the Metro City Hall, 225 Polk Avenue working groups of the Commission, Nashville, TN 37203 including youth justice, youth employ - (615) 880 -1890 ment, health & social services and Web site: www.nashville.gov /moyc /youth /index. recreation & services htm Funding sources: • In -kind donations • Volunteer staff within city government Contact Information: Rachel Antrobus 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 345 San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 554 -6446 Email: Rachel.antrous @sfgov.org Web site: www.sfgov.orglsitelyouth_commission_in- dex.asp 0 47 .Tiny 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils Additional Resources Online Resources At the Table: Youth Voices in Decision Making: www.atthetable.org / The Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development: www.theinnova- tioncenter.org • National League of Cities: www.nlc.org Youth Leadership & Youth Participation in Municipal Government: www.nlc. org /iyef /program_ areas /youth_ development /4348.cfm Youth Participation Advisors Network (YPAN): www.nlc.org /iyef /program_ar- eas /youth_development /4349 •cam Youth Master Planning: www.nlc.org/iyef/program—areas/youth- development/81o.cfiu • Youth as City Leaders (site for youth): www.nlc.org/iyef/networks Onsite Insights: www.onsiteinsights.com / • Youth In Focus (Youth REP): www.youthinfocus.net / Youth Leadership Institute: www.yh.org/ • Youth on Board: www.youthouboard.org/ On Youth Engagement Butler B. & Wharton - Fields D., with Ferber T. & Pittman K (1999)• Finding Com- mon Agendas: How Young People Are Being Engaged in Community Change Ef- forts. Community & Youth Development Series (4). Takoma Park, MD: The Forum for Youth Investment, International Youth Foundation. The Forum for Youth Investment. Youth. Action. Community. Development: The Community and Youth Development Series. Takoma Park, MD: The Forum for Youth Investment, International Youth Foundation. Retrieve online at www.forum- fyi.org /_docdisp_page.cfm? LID= 68DCF829- 963D- 48DF- 8242505C12F1oCC8 The Forum for Youth Investment. (2004, May). "Youth Action." Forum Focus, 2 (2). Washington, DC: The Forum for Youth Investment, Impact Strategies, Inc. Re- trieved online at www.forumfyi.org. Irby, M., Ferber, T., Pittman, K., with J. Tolman & N. Yohalem (2001). Youth Ac- tion: Youth Contributing to Communities, Communities Supporting Youth. Com- munity & Youth Development Series, Volume 6. Takoma Park, MD: The Forum for Youth Investment, International Youth Foundation. • Penn State College of Agricultural Science and Cooperative Extension. Say Y.E.S. to Youth: Youth Engagement Strategies. Retrieved online at http: / /agexted.cas.psn. edu /cyfar /PDFs /yesbookweb.pdf • Tolman, J., & Pittman, K. with B. Cervone, K. Cushman, L. Rowley, S. Kinkade, J. Phillips, & S. Duque. (2001). Youth Acts, Community Impacts: Stories of Youth En- gagement with Real Results. Community & Youth Development Series, Volume 7. Takoma Park, MD: The Forum for Youth Investment, International Youth Founda- tion. • UNICEF. (2001). The Participation Rights of Adolescents: A Strategic Approach. New York, NY: United Nations Children's Fund. Retrieved online at www.unicef. org/ adolescence /files /Participation_Rights_of Adolescents_Rajani_2ool.pdf. 000 48 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils • Fletcher, A. & Vavrus, J. (2oo6). The Guide to Social Change Led By and With Young People. Olympia, WA: CommonAction. Retrieved online at www.atthetable. org/images/Details/ogo8o62023ol87_SocialChangeGuide.pdf. On Building Organizational Capacity Youth in Focus Movement Strategy Center. (2004, December). Measuring up and Throwing Down! Evaluation and Self-Assessment Tools for Youth Organizing Groups. Oakland CA: Youth In Focus Movement Strategy Center. Retrieved online at www.youthinfocus .net /pdf /yoevaltool.pdf. Zimmerman, K. & London, J. "Getting to Go: Building Organizational Capacity to Engage in Youth -led Research, Evaluation, and Planning." Community Youth Devel- opment Journal. Retrieved online at www.youthinfocus.net /pdf /YIF_CYD.pdf. On Youth Led Research Tools John Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities, Stanford University. (2001). Youth Engaged in Leadership and Learning, A Handbook for Supporting Community Youth Researchers. Standford, CA: John Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities, Stanford University. Retrieved online at http: / /gardnercenter. stanford.edu /pdf /YELL_handbook.pdf. National League of Cities. (2000). Promoting Youth Engagement: Action Kit for Municipal Leaders, from the National League of Cities. Washington, DC: National League of Cities. Retrieved online at www.nlc.org /content /Files /IYEF- Action %20 Kit- Youth %2oPart.pdf. Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development. (2001). Organiza- tional Assessment Checklist, Youth on Board. Takoma Park, MD: The Innovation Center. Retrieved online at http: / /atthetable .org /images /Details /Handouts_ra- doA250.pdf. Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development. The Youth /Adult Part- nerships Self-Assessment. Chevy Chase, MD: The Innovation Center. Retrieved online at www.atthetable. org / images / Details/ 03130216040354fYouth- AdultPart- nershipsAssessment.pdf. Youth Council Applications New Mexico: www.nmforumforyouth .org / documents /ya /NMYAMembershipAp- plication.pdf. • Boston: www.bostonyouthzone.com /myc /apply_form.asp San Francisco: www.sfgov.org/ site/ uploadedfiles /youth_commisSiOn /2oo6%20 YC %2oapplication.pdf. Seattle: www.ci.seattle.wa.us / mayor /issues/ myc /docs /o6- 07MYC_Application.pdf. Nashville: ftp: / /ftp.nashville.gov/ web/ mocy/ 07- o8_myc_haison_apphcation.pdf. Hampton: www.hampton.gov / youth / pdf/ o7_ o8_commissioner_apphcation.pdf. 000 49 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils Youth Council Bylaws, Membership Agreements, Release Forms San Francisco Bylaws: the charge, duties, responsibilities and roles that Commission- ers are held accountable to, amended and passed by the 2oo6 -2007 Commission. Retrieved online at www.sfgov.org/ site / uploadedfiles /youth_Commission /Docu- ments_ and_ Publications /2oo6 - 2007 %2obylaws.doc. • North Carolina Release Forms and Permission Slips. Retrieved online at www.doa. state.nc.us /yaio /documents /yla /yla.pdf. • Nebraska mission statements and requirements of membership. Retrieved online at www. pcanebraska. org/ includes / downloads /missionstatement.doc ?PHPSESSID =9147. • Nebraska membership agreement. Retrieved online at www.pcanebraska.org/in- cludes /downloads /memberagreement .doc ?PHPSESSID =9147. Youth Council Enabling Legislation San Francisco Youth Commission: www.sfgov.org /site /uploadedfiles /youth_commis- sion /Documents _ and_Publications /SF% 2oCharter %20- %2oYouth %20Commission. doc. Des Moines Youth Advisory Board: www.ci .des - moines.ia.us /mayor_council/ ordinanc /2005/14466.htm. The Maryland Youth Council: www.ocy£state.md.us. Youth Council Products and Publications Youth Component of the Hampton City Plan (2005). http: / /www.hampton.va.us/ community- plan /iframe.html ?linkfrom= main &bc = Youth% 2 oComponent% 20 Update &url = pdf /youth_component.pdf. Carlson, C. "Youth with Influence: The Youth Planner Initiative in Hampton, Virginia ". Children, Youth and Environments 15 (2): 211 -226. Retrieved online at www.colorado. edu/ journals/ cye/ 15_ 2 /15_2_12_YouthwithInfluence.pdf. • Boston YouthZone Online Database: www.bostonyouthzone.com /resources /youthhue. • Boston Online Survey: www.bostonyouthzone .com /myc /survey_form.asp. San Francisco Youth Commission's Election Glossary: www.sfgov.org/site/youth- commission—Page.asp?id=27427. • Boston Youth Constituents Comments: www.hostonyouthzone .com /myc /issues.asp. Youth Council Reports Maine Fourth Annual Report: www. state. me .us /legis /opla /lyaC2oo6rpt.pdf. New Mexico Annual Report: www.forumfyi .org /Files /YA2004Report.pdf. Washington Legislative Report: www.leg.wa.gov /documents /senate /sadm /lyac /Fi- nalReport _Jan2oo6.pdf. San Francisco Annual Report: www.sfgov.org/ site /uploadedfiles /youth_Commission/ Documents_ and_ Publications /YouthCommAnnua103- 04.pdf. Los Angeles Youth Engagement Taskforce, Our Voice is Your Future, giving L.A.'s Youth Real Voice and Real Power: www .childrensplanningcouncil.org /resource -files/ committees /yet /ytf report.pdf. Annual Report of the Hampton Youth Commission: www.hampton.gov /youth /pdf/ HYC_Report_o6.pdf. 000 50 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils Youth Council Enabling Legislation Maine Legislative Youth Advisory Council (3 pages) The Paw cra kiq the Legdsf u*e, Youth Advrsan Goundi (Errscted by PL 200f, c. 439; part PPPP Text of Title 3, stxtlem 16&A See. PPPP -1.3 MPSA 9168 -A is enacted to read: §168-A. Legislative Youth Advisory Council There is established the Legislative Youth Advisory Council, referred to in this section as the "'Council." 1. Dudes, The Council shall perform the following duties: A. Advise the Legislature, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the blouse of Representatives on proposed and pending legislation, state budget expenditures and policy matters related to youth; R. Advise the joint standing committees of the Legislature and study currunissions, committees and task forces regarding issues related to youth C. Conduct an annual seminar each August for its members regarding leadership, government and the Legislature, to which Legislators must be invited; D. Meet at least b times per year and conduct 2 public hearings per yearr on issues of importance to youth; and E. Publish an annual report of its activities and present the report to the Legislature by February 15th of eaekyear. The Council may submit legislation to the Legislature. 2. Juriisdiietion. The Council shall examine issues of importance to youth, including, but not limited to, education, employment, Strategies to increase youth participation in municipal govcrvmcnt and Stage Crovemment, safe environments for youth, substance abuse, emotional and physical health, foster care, poverty, homelessness and youth access to services on municipal and statewide > rases. 3, Membership. The Council consists of 21 voting members and 5 nonvoting mernberx who are Maine residents, in accordance with this subsection, in appointing members, the appointing authorities shall consider geographic distribution and shall appoint at least one member from each of the 3 service regions of the Department of Human Services. Members shall serve for terms of 2 years and, if eligible, may be reappointed felt subsequent 2 -year teams, except that the appointing authorities shall appoint ]t2 of the members first appointed to the Council to terms or one year. A. The President of the Senate shall appoint 10 members cos follows, (1) Six youths who are students in secondary schools or who arc cnr4llcd in programs that lead to a secondary school diploma or certificate or attendance or a general equivalency diploma; (2) One youth Who is enrolled in an equivalent insmcdon program under Title 20-A, chapter 211. subehapter I -A; (3) Two students at postsecondary educational institutions located in the ,State; and (4) One member of the Senate whose term coincides with the term of office in the Striate, 00051 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils The law creating the Legisladve Youth Advismy Gouncr! (Enac od by PL 200 r, c, 478, Pert PPPP) B. The Speaker of the House shall appoint 11 members as follows: (1) Six ,youths who are students in secondary schools or who are enrolled in programs that lend to a secondary school diploma or certificate of attendance or a general equivalency diploma; (2) Oac youth who, is enrolled in an equivalent instruction program under Title 29 .A, chapter 211, subchapter 1 -A; (3) Two students at postsecondary educational institutions located within the .State; and (4) Two members of the House of Representatives wttose terms coincide with their terms of office in the House of Repre&entatives. C. 'Thm merubers of the Ch:ildren's Cabinet, established pursuant to Title 5, section 19131, serve ex officio and may not vote. 4. Chairs, At the first meeting of each calendar year, the members shall elect one of their youth rrrcinbers to serve as co -chair for a term of one year. The member of the House of Representatives who is the first appointed by the Speaker shall serve as co- chair. S. Cooperation with Departmeitt of Education. The Council shat work cooperatively with the Department of Education on tlsc integration of Council experience into. the learning results standards in student service and career preparation_ 6. Priorldes. The Council shat set priorities and shall determine the function of subcommimees. standards of conduct, process, procedures and the use of technology to convene mecdntgs« CounncU members shat review and consider the procedures and rules used by the legislature as they may be apptapratc for use as models for the Council 7. Commun"don. The Council may provide testimony on legislation pending before the Legislature. & Compensation. Members of the Council who are Legislators are entitled to the legislative per diem and to reimbursement of reasonable expenses incuffed in order to serve on the Council as provided in Title 5, section 17004 -1, subsection 54•C. All other members who are not otherwise reimbursed for their service on the Council are entitled to conTensation for reasonable expenses incurred in order to serve on the Council as provided. in Title 5, section 12004 -1. subsection 54 -C. 9. Freedom of access. Meetings of the Council ate public meetings and ail records of the Council are public records as defined by Title 1, section 402, subsection 3. 10. Staff. Th. Office of policy and Legal Analysis and the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service shall provide staff assistance to the Council. Sec. PPPP -2.5 MRSA ✓$120104 -L sub454 -C is enacted to read: 54=C. Legislature i. 've Yauih Legislative Pcr Diem and Expenses 3 MRSA -A. dvisoru uarl for Legislators and Ex nscs Qujl< for Certain Members 0 ®0 52 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils The taw craamg die Legrslative Yrwb r Adv'svey Gourr4A (Enacrad by PL P001, e: 439, Para PPPP) Sec. PPPP -3. Appropriation. The following funds are appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of this Part. 2042 -43 LEGISLATURE Lcgirslstore. Personal Services $11,660 All Other 36,204 ProvWes funds far the per diem and expense of legislative mmbes and other eligible members of the Legislative Youth Advises Council, to hold public hearings, to held an annual seminar and for printing and miscellaneous costs, LEGISLATURE TOTAL $47,860 Sec. PPPP4. Effective date. This Part takes effect July 1, 2002. 000 53 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils Maryland Youth Council (3 pages) Executibe Department EXECUTIVE ORDER 01.013006.10 The Maryland Youth Council WHEREAS, It is the goal of my Administration to ensure that all Maryland's children are successful in life; WHEREAS, To reach this goal, there must be a commitment to youth - centered public policies and programs designed to ensure all Maryland youth have access to support services that meet their needs and builds on their aspirations to be fully prepared for work, education and life skills; WHEREAS, In order to implement this policy, it is essential that young people are given the power to take a leadership role in creating meaningfiil change for themselves, their families and their communities; WHEREAS, The programs, policies and budgets of Maryland's child serving agencies are coordinated through the Children's Cabinet to ensure effective, efficient, and comprehensive delivery of services; and WHEREAS, There is a need for a Youth Council comprised of youth representatives from across the State to act as a statewide advisory group to the Children's Cabinet, enabling state administrators to create and refine youth policies with the benefit of feedback and recommendations of the population they are designed to serve. NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROBERT L. EHRLICH, IR., GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF MARYLAND, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE ORDER EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: A. The Maryland Youth Council is hereby established to eincoirrage young people throughout the State of Maryland to consider and discuss how govermnent, working with its public and private - sector partners to develop possible solutions for presentation to the Children's Cabinet and; thereby, achieve better outcomes for youth. 00054 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils B. Membership. (1) The Youth Council will consist of up to 24 youths, aged 13 to 19, selected by the Executive Director of the Office for Children with concurrence of the Governor, A Chairperson shall be selected in a similar manner from among the members of the Council. (2) To the extent possible, the Youth Council members will be selected from each jurisdiction of the State from established public and private youth councils and youth empowerment organizations in Maryland, including, but not ,limited to, youth in service learning and leadership programs, teen court programs, foster care, student councils, juvenile service and transitional progrars. (3) Youth Council members will serve terms of 2 years, or until they have reached the age of 20, whichever shall first occur. The terms of the members shall be staggered from initial appointment commencing July 1 of the year this Executive Order takes effect. C. procedures. (1) The Youth Council will meet four times a year for the purpose of improving youth outcomes. (2) A majority of the Youth Council members shall constitute a quonun for the transaction of any business. (3) The last meeting of each year will be to present recommendations to the Children's Cabinet and the Governor. (4) The Chair of the Youth Council will assign a representative to attend meetings of the Advisory Council for Children. (5) Members of the Youth Council may not receive any compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expeilscs incurred in the performance of duties, in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations, and as provided in the State budget. D. Duties. The Youth Council shall have the following duties: (1) Make recommendations for the Three -Year Children's Plan to the Governor; (2) Participate in local youth activities or organizations and advise local officials arid conum mity leaders on youth issues; 000 55 July 2007 9 >> r s s i { � f r L ,s` 2 r Building Effective Youth Councils (3) Collect information from other youth groups in order to inform the Youth Council; and (4) Meet on a statewide level four times a year to discuss youth issues and develop their reeonunendations. E. Staffing. The Governor's Office for Children will provide staff to the Youth Council and will: (1) Identify the existing youth councils in Maryland; (3) Work with those existing councils to select representatives for the Maryland Youth Council; (3) Ensure that youth selected from those existing councils provide a broad representation on the Youth Council of all jurisdictions and populations; (4) Organ ze four Youth Council meetings a year; (5) Attend Advisory Council meetings with the Youth Council representative; (6) Assist the Youth Council in preparing recommendations to the Children's Cabinet and the Governor; (7) Act as a liaison between the Youth Council and the Governor's Office for Children. GIVEN Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the State of Maryland, in the City of Ainapolis, this 30t1i day of October, ?006. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Governor ATTEST: Mary D.. ai 4�/ Seeretai ate 56 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum (5 pages) Senate Bill No. 247— Senators Wiener, Horsford, Woodhouse, Titus, Schneider, Amodei, Cegayske, Heck, Lee, Mathews and Washington Joint Sponsor: Assemblywoman Parnell CHAPTER.......... AN ACT relating to education; creating the Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum; prescribing the membership, powers and duties of the Forum; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel's Digest: Sections 3 -5 of this bill create the Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum, consisting of 21 members who are enrolled in grades 9 -12 in public schools or otherwise eligible for enrollment in public schools but enrolled in a homeschool or private school. Each Senator appoints a member to the Forum. Sections 6 -10 of this bill set forth the powers and duties of the Forum. The Forum must hold at least two public hearings each school year, review issues of importance to the youth in this State and submit an annual report of the activities of the Forum. In addition, the Forum may, within the limits of available money, hold meetings during a regular session of the Legislature to advise the Legislature on proposed legislation concerning the youth in this State. The Forum may also conduct seminars for the benefit of its members relating to leadership, government and the legislative process. Finally, the Forum may submit a request for the drafting of one legislative measure which relates to matters within the scope of the Forum. WHEREAS, The United States is facing a population of youth that is disengaged and lacks the necessary knowledge, skills and dispositions to participate in and carry out civic duties; and WHEREAS, In the 2004 presidential election, 53.1 percent of Nevadans over 25 years of age voted, compared with 38.4 percent among Nevadans 18 to 24 years of age; and WHEREAS, The lack of voter turnout for citizens who are 18 to 24 years of age is often attributed to cynicism toward the political process, disillusionment with politics, voter apathy and a lack of acknowledgment by the media and politicians of issues involving youth; and WHEREAS, Most governmental services are designed with input and participation from the people being served; however, young people under the age of 18 are not allowed to vote and are often left out of the democratic process; and WHEREAS, Several issues are important to the youth in the nation as well as the youth in this State, including, without limitation, education, employment opportunities, participation in state and local government, a safe environment, the prevention of • • 57 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils —2— substance abuse, emotional and physical well- being, foster care and access to state and local services; and WHEREAS, Research shows that the programs designed for youth which are most effective at promoting positive outcomes are framed in terms of the constructive assets the programs seek to build rather than the negative behaviors the programs seek to avoid; and WHEREAS, There is a growing need to reverse the trend of apathy by engaging our youth directly with policymakers in a manner that will provide genuine opportunities for our youth to acquire civic knowledge and develop the skills necessary to participate fully in a democratic society; and WHEREAS, Within the past 5 years, Maine, New Mexico, Washington and New Hampshire have enacted bills that create a Youth Issues Forum, which institutionalizes the participation of youth in the policy - making process in those states; and WHEREAS, The creation of a Youth Issues Forum offers policymakers an opportunity to learn from youth as well as provides a meaningful opportunity for youth to learn about the policy - making process; and WHEREAS, By providing an avenue for participation, this State will provide our youth with an opportunity to understand the ideals of citizenship and to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in effective government and appreciate the value of American democracy; now, therefore, THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Scction 1. Chapter 385 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act. Sec. 2. As used in sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act, "Forum" means the Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum created by section 3 of this act. Sec. 3. 1. The Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum is hereby created, consisting of 21 members. 2. Each member of the Senate shall, taking into consideration any recommendations made by a member of the Assembly, appoint a person who submits an application and meets the qualifications for appointment set forth in section 4 of this act. A member of the Assemhly may submit recommendations to a member of the Senate concerning the appointment. 3. After the initial terms: 000 58 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils -3- (a) Appointments to the Forum must he made by each member of the Senate before June 30 of each year. (h) The term of each member of the Forum begins July I of the year of appointment. 4. Each member of the Forum serves a term of I year and may he reappointed if the member continues to meet the qualifications for appointment set forth in section 4 of this act. Sec. 4. 1. To he eligible for appointment to the Forum, a person must he a resident of the senatorial district of the Senator who appoints him and must he: (a) Enrolled in a public school in this State in grade 9, 10, 11 or 12 for the school year in which he serves; or (h) Exempt from compulsory attendance pursuant to NRS 392.070, but otherwise eligible to enroll in a public school in this State in grade 9, 10, 11 or 12 for the school year in which he serves. 2. A person who is eligible for appointment to the Forum may submit an application on the form prescribed pursuant to subsection 3 to the Senator of the senatorial district in which the person resides for appointment or reappointment to the Forum 3. The Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau shall prescribe a form for applications submitted pursuant to this section, which must require the signature of the principal of the school in which the applicant is enrolled or, if the applicant is exempt from compulsory attendance pursuant to NRS 392.070, the signature of a member of the community in which the applicant resides other than a relative of the applicant. Sec. 5. 1. A position on the Forum becomes vacant upon: (a) The death or resignation of a member. (h) The absence of a member for any reason from two consecutive meetings of the Forum, unless excused by the Chairman of the Forum (c) A change of residency of a member which renders that member ineligihle under his original appointment. 2. A vacancy on the Forum must he filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. Sec. 6. 1. The Forum shall elect from among its memhers, to serve a term of I year beginning on July I of each year: (a) A Chairman, who shall conduct the meetings and oversee the formation of committees as necessary to accomplish the business of the Forum The Chairman must he: (1) Enrolled in a public school in this State in grade 9, 10 or 11 for the school year in which he serves; or 0 C • 59 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils -4- (2) Exempt from compulsory attendance pursuant to NRS 392.070, but otherwise eligible to enroll in a public school in this State in grade 9, 10 or 11 for the school year in which he serves. (h) A Vice Chairman, who shall assist the Chairman and conduct the meetings of the Forum if the Chairman is absent or otherwise unable to perform his duties. 2. The Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau: (a) Shall provide meeting rooms and teleconference and videoconference facilities for the Forum. (h) Shall, in the event of a vacancy on the Forum, notify the appropriate appointing authority of such vacancy. (c) May accept gifts, grants and donations from any source for the support of the Forum in carrying out the provisions of sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act. Sec. 7. 1. The Forum shall. (a) Hold at least two public hearings in this State each school year. (h) Simultaneously teleconference or videoconference each public hearing to two or more prominent locations throughout this (c) Evaluate, review and comment upon issues of importance to the youth in this State, including, without limitation: (1) Education; (2) Employment opportunities; (3) Participation of youth in state and local government; (4) A safe learning environment; (5) The prevention of substance abuse; (6) Emotional and physical well - being; (7) Foster care; and (8) Access to state and local services. (d) Conduct a public awareness campaign to raise awareness about the Forum and to enhance outreach to the youth in this State. 2. The Forum may, within the limits of availahle money: (a) During the period in which the Legislature is in a regular session, meet as often as necessary to conduct the business of the Forum and to advise the Legislature on proposed legislation relating to the youth in this State (h) Form committees, which may meet as often as necessary to assist with the business of the Forum (c) Conduct periodic seminars for its members regarding leadership, government and the legislative process. see 6o The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils -5- (d) Employ a person to provide administrative support for the Forum or pay the costs incurred by one or more volunteers to provide any required administrative support. 3. The Forum and its committees shall comply with the provisions of chapter 241 of NRS. 4. On or before June 30 of each year, the Forum shall submit a written report to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau and to the Governor describing the activities of the Forum during the immediately preceding school year and any recommendations for legislation. The Director shall transmit the written report to the Legislative Committee on Education and to the next regular session of the Legislature Sec. 8. The Forum may: 1. Request the drafting of not more than one legislative measure which relates to matters within the scope of the Forum A request must he submitted to the Legislative Counsel on or before July I preceding the commencement of a regular session of the Legislature unless the Legislative Commission authorizes submitting a request after that date. 2. Adopt procedures to conduct meetings of the Forum and any committees thereof. Those procedures may he changed upon approval of a majority vote of all members of the Forum who are present and voting. 3. Advise the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau regarding the administration of any appropriations, gifts, grants or donations received for the support of the Forum Sec. 9. The members of the Forum serve without compensation. To the extent that money is available, including, without limitation, money from gifts, grants and donations, the members of the Forum may receive the per diem allowance and travel expenses provided for state officers and employees generally for attending a meeting of the Forum or a seminar conducted by the Forum Sec. 10. 1. Each Senator shall appoint a member to the Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum created by section 3 of this act to an initial term commencing on July 1, 2008, and expiring on June 30, 2009. 2. The Forum shall hold its first meeting not later than October 1, 2008. At the first meeting of the Forum, the members of the Forum shall elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman who hold those positions until June 30, 2009. 3. After the initial terms of office, sections 3 and 6 of this act govern the terms of office of the members of the Forum. see 61 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils San Francisco Youth Commission (2 pages) City and County of San Francisco Charter Re: The San Francisco Youth Commission SEC. 4.132. YOUTH COMMISSION. There is heathy established a commission to be known as the Youth Commission (hercinafter called "Commission' to advise the Board of Supervisors and Mayor on issues relating to children and youth_ The Commission shall operate under the jurisdiction ofthe Board of Supervisors. SEC. 4.123. YOUTH COMMISSION MFM$ERSIHIP; APPOINTMENT; TERMS; MEETINGS; COMPENSATION; DIRECTOR. (a.) Commission Membership. The Coi�ion shall consist of seventeen (17) voting members, each of whom shall be between the ages of 12 and 23 years at the time of appointment. Each member of the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor shall appoint one member to the Commission, The Mayor shall also appoint bve (5) members from underrepresented conmmunitdes to ensure that the Commission represents the diversity of the City. All appointments shalt be completed by the sixtieth day after the effective date of this charter amendment and by that date of each year thereafter. Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities. The Comrnission shall consist of individuals who have an understanding of the needs of young people in San Francisco, or experience with children and youth programs or youth organizations, or involvement with School or community activities. The members shall represent the diversity of ethnicity, race, gender and sexual orientation of the people of the City and County. and shall be residents of the City and County. (b) Term of Office. Members shall serve a term of one year. The first one }ear term for all members shad I begin upon the date the Clerk of the 134ard of Supervisors certifies that all members of the Commission have been appointed fallowing the adoption of this charter amendment Future terms of office shall begin on that date of each successive year, Members shall conduct the first meeting of the Commission within thirty days of the appointment of all members. In the event a vacancy occurs during the term of office of any voting member, a successor shall be appointed to complete the unexpired term of the office vacated in a manner similar to that which the member was initially appointed. (c) Removal of Members. Any member whom the Commission certif es to have missed three regularly scheduled meetings ofthe Commission in any six month period without prior authorization of the Commission shall be deemed to have resigned from the Commission effective on the date of the written certification from the Commission. (d) Compensation. Members of the Commission shall not be compensated, nor shall they be reimbursed for expenses. (e) Meeting's. The Commission shall mesa at least once a nxanth. (f) Minutes of Meetings. The Commission shall prepare and maintain permanent minutes of the actions taken during its meetings, and shall file copies xRth the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, e e a 62 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils {g) Bylaws. To aid in the orderly conduct of business, the Commission shall have the authority to create, amend, and repeal its own code of bylaws_ SEC. 4. 124. YOUTH COMMISSION—PURPOSE A" DUTIES- The purpose of the Commission is to sollcct all information relevant to advising the Bo" of Supervisors and Mayer on the cffccts of 14slativc policies, needs, assessments, priodtius, programs, and budgets concerning the children and youth of San Francisco. Before the Board of Supervisors takes final action on any matter thrt primarily affects children and youth of the City and County, the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors shall rcfcr the matter to the Commission for comment and recommendation. The: Commission shall proyidc any response it deems appro0ate within 12 days of the date the Board of Supervisors referred the mattes to the Commission After the 12 day period has elapsed, the Board of Supervisors may act on the matter whether or not the Board has received a response. This referral rNuirement shall not apply to any matter where immediate action by the Board of Supervisors is necessary to protect the public interest. The Commission shall have the fallowing duties and functions: (a) Identify the amcoms and needs of the children and youth of San Francisco; examine existing social, economic, educational, and recreational programs for children and youth; develop and propose plans that support or improve such piugrarns; and make recommendations thereon to the Mayor and Hoard of Supervisors. (b) Identify the unmet needs of San Francisco's children and youth through personal contact with these young people, school officials, church leaders, and others„ and hold public forums in which both youth and adults are encouraged to participate. (c) Elicit the interest, support, and mutual cooperation ofprivate groups (such as fraternal orders, service clubs, associations, churches, businesses, and youth organizations) and city -wide neighborhood planning collaborative efforts for children, youth and families that initiate and sponsor recommendations that address the social, coommie, educational, and recreational needs of children and youth in San Franciscan. Advise the Board -of Supervisors and Mayor about haw such recommendations could he coordinated in the community to eliminate duplication in cost and effort. (d) Advise about available sources of govern mental and private funding for youth programs. (c) Submit recommendations to the Mayor and Hoard of 5upm vicars about juvenile crime prevention, job opportunities for youth, recreational activities farteenagers, opportunities for affective participation by youth in the governmental process, and changes in city and county regulations that are necessary to improve the social, economic, educational, and recreational advantages of children and youth. (f) Respond to requests for comment and recommendation on amttcrs referred to the Commission by officers, departments, agencies, boards, commissions and advisory corn mrittees; ofthe City and County. (g) Report to the Board of Supervisors the activities, goals, and accomplishments ofthe Commission by Juiy 1 of each calendar year, effective July 1, 1997. SEC. 4.125. JURISDICTION. The Commission shall be under the jurisdiction of the Board ofSupervisors; the Commission shall have only those powers created by Sections 4.122 through 4.125 or by ordinance of tb.e Board of Supervisors. ®s • 63 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils Des Moines Youth Advisory Board City Ordinance (3 pages) ORDINANCE NO. 14,466 -I:AKE to amend the Municipal Code of the City of Des Moines, --, 2000, adopted by Ordinance No- 13,027, passed Jun. 5, 2000, and amended by Ordinance No. 14,232, passed May 5, 2003, and Ord-nance No. 14,243, passed June 23, 2003 by amending Sections and 2-1177 thereof, relating to the youth advisory board_ 5e Or dained by the City Go-amcil of the City of Des Moines, Iowa: Section 1- That the Municipal Code of the City of Des Moines, Iowa, 2000, adopted by Ordinance No- 13,927, passed Tune 5, 2000, and amended by Ordinance No- 14,232, passed May S, 2033 and Ordinance No_ 14,243, passed Jun. 23, 2003 is hereby amended by —dig Sections 2- 1176 and 2-1177 relating to the yauth advisory board, an follows, Sec. 2-1176. Created; composition; appointment. {a} There is established in and for the city a youth advisory board comprised of 22 members- The youth advisory board shall cons-st of seven adult members and fifteen youth members. The adult memo—. shall '—l.d. representatives f.— the following originating Organizations: a_ One representative from the YMCA_ b. One representative from the Des Moines Independent Community School District_ c_ One representative from the Create= Des Moines Partnership. d- Two representatives to be appcinzed by the city —g— - r-,- -- of the city of Des Mi... may serve in th-z capacity. a_ Two representatives nominated by community organizations s=h an- Iowa Homeless Youth Shelter, Youth Emergency Service., Young professionals Organizations, Rotary Club, Drake University, Des Moines Unaversity, Des Moines Public Library, the YMCA, the Des Moines Independen-, School District, the Greater Des Moines raztnership, the city manager's office, or others_ {2} The youth members must be under the age of 19 at the time of appointment and shall include, One representative from each of the following originating orqan_,ations' • East High Scl=' • Hoover High • Lincoln Fl= • North F--', 7 • P3 seve---, School • ScavD -hDcl • D—li—, • Des Mc,--s s�-an School b- b- Fcu'-, -epresentatives at-large o- -.- representative. nominated by community organizations (Creative Visions, Making e e e 64 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils Connections, Grubb YMCA, Des Moines Fual_c L_brary, S. -Seer City Crm iss ion, Partners fo° 7--onomic Fro;ress, and others} {c} All adult merbers shall be appointed for thirty -sic r.3nt:2 terms commencing the first meeting in June_ All youth members shall he appointed for germs commencing the first day in June and ending the first meet =aq in August upon high school graduation. The length of ter- f -.r a youth member shall be no less than 15 months and nc. more than 51 months. (d} N�t,. ;' :-.sta^;irg the appointment and res- idency requirements of d= :-_s_c.r. _ r this chapter, the board shall appoint all members by el-c:-:-, subject to removal by the city council at any tia _ Residen•_-y `_D_ the youth of the youth advisory board will be as follows: one youth must attend a Des Moines high school full time, live within the city limits of Des Moines, or have fulfilled ce.e of these requirements at the time of their appointment to the board_ {e} Upon termination or resignation of any board member, that member shall be replaced by .an individual from the departing members originating organization. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2 -1648, the new member shall serve a term pursuant to section 2- 117E {c}. {e} No person holding elective office in the municipal government shall be eligible for appointment to or service on the board. Sec. 2 -1177. powers and duties. The youth advisory board shall have the following powers and duties: {1} Oversee in a responsible manner all programs and events sponsored by the board_ {2? Maintain a positive, effective relationship with the local med-a to market special events and inform the public ahout youth - related issues- (3y Work with local agencies as requested and when deemed appropriate to deliver services to youth and to advise youth of service providers_ {4} Coordinate with the city's departments and boards and to advise the city's departments and boards concerning the planning and supervising of events sponsored by the youth advisory board. {_5} Advise and make appropriate recommendations to the city council and city departments_ See_ 2.. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as provided by law_ FORM APPROVED: Bruce E. Bergman, City Attorney T.M_ Franklin Cownie, Mayor • • • 65 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils Attest= I, Diane Rauh, City Clerk of the City of Des Moines, Iowa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a trice copy of an ordinance {Roll Call No_ 95- 1712), passed by the City Council of said City at a meeting held July 10, 2005 signed by the M yor on Suly 18, 2005 and published as provided by law in the Business Record on August 1, 2065 Authorised by Publication Order Ho. 4628. Diane Rauh, City Clerk • • 66 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils Youth Council Application Forms Hampton Youth Commission (3 pages) 0 011)) 8 " rH � coLIMrssroN Youth Colutuission Apj liC0iO1L fcrr MeriilreP;irilr 2006 2.1107 'i lte youth uornoti."inn i4 a miry fanded uonunissinn co nrlrosed of high school aged -youTh front Hampton. The YouTh Conunissiou is an oppor ftuzity for youth to havc sa foniral role in the city's platuing cud decir;inn -rnal ing process. Yuutu C'irrnuussiii>, 1 €Mb rS RLIVICSOLI 1 H313lal0u VOIL113 c}aa ik!:ua?, iIaalxrrlyral 10 tlaMn_ identify ways to improve Hampton for its Youth. Appropriate fiurds for youth relared activities. Act m� an ad%s .scst y hoard to City Council and other uoulA- NICtn1rr i -drip C'ril ul is Applicaurls ruust Vu wifbuig to taltmd two or inore rucclings a atunlli belwA ii the riatet of July 2006 and June 2007. Ati applicanm will be considered regardless of race, color, gender, motional origin, or disability if interested, coinplere this applicad all all d stibinir it by I lay 4, 2006 to. Haluptou C oalitiou for Youth 22 Uitculn St, Hainpinii, ■ A 13664 Attu: Hsuupton Youth C nrniuission Or call: 72$ -3285 44067 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils _kpplicaui luful-waiiiin: Nanw Social Seciuiry Niimbef Addjr Pluu]r XIMHlsn Date ofBiab Age School C,'uarcnt Ciradc S 9 10 11 12 Where did you get this ?ippliention'! 1. school 2_ Alii-rnatisrti 4. Place of Worship :. Recreation Activity 6_ 01her Applicant ExIm.r nee- PlMne lip] Vinu irk [ i4mi-rni jUb%nnr44w vuhwmi rr rxTwzirna-r hidiwlr mj?,�enirAliimi%aiul rhah 1331 airi'[oon anw of Orpniza mn Title or Position ]3cnod of Involsrnsc,[ Rom Per We& 3laenr ufRefi-int a Plueur- NIMAWE _ IW2 of 0E,9,a ctizguon Iirlc Of i'osiaoon Period of InwhT cm Roues Per L -tek Nam of Ref" r a Fhmbe Nlmlher Naenr Ufa FM1nta[ am Tiilr in Pinitiun I }MOM of 1RMh- enacut Iiours Per Viltek Nnnmr of ltcfertucc Phouc Vtunber e e e 68 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils Arlrlitional U fnr-malion: Tar .LVr r;"-ll :Tj tllic-;u31. IIW utIINITI my In etr1111u1rbarr Eris m 11r1 elipiEtilily fir rhr Yun di Comaussloa answer cbe following queslloOs on a sepamw sbeeT of pa ef. Yltast ham each rtsponse to 104 3coxds or less_ Attach r ixmse shret to the application awl submit Inprllxt L Aly do you bclicve that You nmald be a good cand dace for She YOUtb veruuixsiceel? limy %pmiaE yuahlieO ? '4L MI 163 Y4311 eILVLr un x Yi1LdIL CLH1Um6%%i9]n r% hrinp7 'ULY s1wu111t 111n r 13r Tarr" fu Y0111 01t 11um. lebmt is Ihr nnr,r rtiliral iWtr faring V011111 i11NOW A -hLK)I ue ynen iarighkxnher 3d,. and in WLM1 COY' l IAI rain a Y[11111] f;nlniu'„iun ik) to -.A% -r such a proiritaV Applieaat Statement ! bRrA1'rw rill Mar ring onfrj fk� l J'rfnvghwi is fnru. funds rrner mi the bau edmi. b� w4mdxw ! rrr.:: 9Mari Ylira pruri4;hw gffakm' imfiavwreararAra meJ1' divywil�f4y MkI. rVR.S%J'FrPmrjV l rrarrhdrl_e &W r t'rtun gf,'dus r?Efaaura ?w j6r Tet�#f an prrrpr�raa arad raraderswnd a wit bw resed ma y ro pr7xem rr{� r°wrcrpgn 'Signature Drnte • o e 69 July 2007 New Mexico Youth Alliance (5 pages) New MaKico lai)l 11:11 FOR Yt }U°.l'll In Community Building Effective Youth Councils 11111— • Y uth Alliance +ti r.3wrsr.�w.r�rcv- �-e?�. Membership Application M Youth Section Personal Wormatii:in (please print) Youth Name: Other names used: (nicknames, etc.) Physical Home Address': Mailing Address: City, State, Zip: Nine -Digit Zip Phoiw�: Email: Gender: As e: bate of birth: Eehrdefty: Parent/Guardian Name #1: ParentiGuardian Name #2; Szhool /Program Attending: Current Grade: MerntrershipApplication f of 5 000 7p The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils Adu[t Section Adult Nance: Other names used: (ridd(narnes, etc) Physical Home Address': City, state, Zip: Mailing Address: Nine-Digit Zip ": Phone: Email: Gende r: Lthnicity: Employer: T tle /position: Business Phone: Other contact information: Youth Member Legi5Lative District Section Senate District: # —Sen.- Representative District: # Rep.: Congressional District: # Congressman: Using your physical home address, you can find your senate 5 house district online! Go to www.legis.state.nm.us Click on "find your legislator" and enter your rip code. You will need your 9 digit ZIP code. —To find your 9 nine digit zip code, go to htto :ffziu.=s.com /zindJwetcome.iso. Membership Application 3 of 5 009 71 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils Partnership Question Section Please answer these questions together as a team, Do your best to explain why the partnership is strong, 1) Describe why you both, as a team, want to he a part of the New A"enaco Youth Alli ante? 2) What does the phrase "youth/ adult partnership" mean to the both of you? 3) What resources do you have to contribute to the success of your }vuthJadult partnership? lTM can include, but is not limited to= time, money, transportation, and expertise) Memhership,lpplicatian 3 of 5 000 '72 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils Youth Essay Section Please write and tell about your personal, educational, career Interests and possible future goals. Also explain your involvementwit hin your community and or volunteer pursuits: Membership Application 4 of 5 000 73 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils Reference Section Please list at least two ADULT mentors, partners, teachers, and employers who have known you for at least a year or two. No relatives please_ Reference name Phone number Address Membership Application Certification Section We both understand that if selected to participate in the New Mexico Youth Alliance, we fully understand the role that we must undertake. We also understand the responsibilities that we are accountable for and agree to follow as we complete the two year commitment_ We also both understand any misrepresentation or omission of any material fact on this application may result in the possible disqualification to join the New Mexico Youth Alliance. Also any behavioral misconduct will garner the possible termination of our partnership within the New Mexico Youth Alliance. We have both read and understand what is expected. Youth Member Signaturelf ate Adult Member SrgnaturefDate MerntrershipApplication 5 of 5 74 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils Nashville Mayor's Youth Council (4 pages) i; / Are you a rising Junior or Senior? Bill Furcall Mayor The Mayor's Youth Council (MYC) is now seeking applicants for 2004 -2005. What is the Mayor's Youth Council? On November 1 1, 19139, Mayor Hill Purce ll appointed the first Mayor's Youth Council. The Mayor's Youth Council consists of 32 high school juniors and senors from public and private schools. 'The Council holds monthly meetings and meets quarterly with the Mayor. The mission of the Mayor's Youth Council is to j1 j provide ongoing and direct input on government policies and practices that may affect teenagers. (2} recommend and foster initiatives for and by youth. (3j act as a communication link between the Metropolitan Government and the young people of Nashville, (4) promote and give recognition to the abilities, accomplishments, and contributions of young people in their communities and (5} organize countywide forums, including an annual Mayors Youth Summit. What are some events and projects of the MYC? City Youth Liaisons. Mayor's Youth Council members and selected youth from the communityat large are appointed as liaisons to Metro boardsand commissions. [luring the spring, liaisons produce an annual report on the board and commission's youth activRiesand programs. Mayor's Youth Summit. In partnership with several youth organizations, the MYC plans and organizes the annual summit. that brings together youth from across Nashville Davidson County. At the Summit, youth address key issues, that impact their lives, strengthen their leadership and citizenship skills, and are empowered to make positive changes in their communities. Citywide High School Talent Shaw. Mayor's Youth Council members host an annual citywide talent show which promotes, the diverse talents of young people in a safe and drug -free environment. What is the time commitment? Mayor's Youth Council meetings are held once a month. Most meeting occur on the 2' or V Thursday from 5:UU pm 6:30 pm at the Main Public Library. There are committee meetings R other activities requiring approximately hrs. per week after school Application Deadline is April 30, 2004. Please mail completed appllcatlons to Mayor's Office of Children and Youth, Metro City Hall, 725 Palk Avenue Nashville, TN 37783 Phana: Tr15 -880 -1894 Fax' 615688.0.1$13 000 75 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL 2064 - 2005 Application Please type or write neatly. I. STUDENT INFORMATION Na me School ,add ress Grade Level City State Zip Code Phone Cell Phone Email Gender Race Date of Birth Do you have transportation to and from meetings? Yes No Please Note: The full Council meets once a month. There are also committee meetings and other event requiring approximately 2 hours per week after school. Council terms are for one year. Mandatory orientation will take place on June 10 -11, 2014 and August2B, 2004 and failure to attend may disqualify one from participating in MYC. I have read and understand the time commitment required for the Mayor's. Youth Council. I also know the importance of teamwork and cooperation. I am able to make such a commitment to this Council. Student Signature: Date II. PARENTI GUARDIAN PERMISSION Name(s) of Parent!Guardia,n: J hereby give my child permission to apply for selection to the Mayor's Youth Council. ParentlGuardian Signature Date III. SHORTANSWERS We want to know more about you. Please answer the following questions_ Why do you want to participate in the Mayor's Youth Council? 76 The Forum for Youth Investment Building Effective Youth Councils 2. Please list any activities you are currently involved in, such as employment. volunteer, athletic, school clubs, etc. Please respond on a separate sheet of paper it you need additional space. 3. What activities or commitments will you have, especially during after school hours, during 2004 -2005? (including employment) 4. What personal skills and characteristics do you possess that would make you a good representative for the Mayor's Youth Cou nciP 5. Explain three community issues that affect the lives of Nashville youth that concern you and how the Mayor's Youth Council could address these issues. Please res pond on a separate sheet of paper if you need additional space. IV. RECCMMEN❑ATIONS You must submit two recommendations. Each must come from someone who is familiar with your background and who has served as an advisor leader of a school an6or community related organization or club that you have been a part of while in high school. Use the attached recommendation forms. The forms must be submitted directly to the Mayor's Office by the recommenders themselves. V. INTERVIEW PREFERENCE Please select the best date and time for a potential group interview. Use the attached form. 000 77 July 2007 Building Effective Youth Councils r Name of applicant: IV. Recommendation Form One T'he Mayor's Youth Council consists of 32 high school juniors and senors from public and private schools in Nashville Davidson County. the Council holds monthly meetings and r-reets quarterly with the Mayor. Mayer'sYo Lit h Council members serve as a communication link to the Metropolitan Government and Nashville youth. The Council organizes events such as the Mayor's Youth Summit and a citywide talent show. Members also serve as liaisons to local board and commissions. Mayor's Youth Council members are required to attend monthly meetings, as well as committee meetings and events throughout the month. Members take an active role in planning and organizing events. Nantie of Reference: Phone: OrganizationlAffiliation: Title: 1. In what capacity and how long haveyou known the applicant? 2_ What would you consider to be the applicant's strengths? 3_ What would you consider to be the applicant's weaknesses? 4. How reliable is the applicant? 5. Give an example of how this candidate takes initiative: fi_ Why would this candidate be a goad choice to serve on the Mayor's Youth Council? Thank you fortakinq the time to fill out this recommendation form. REFERENCES MUST BE RECEIVED BY APRIL 30, 2I104. Please faxform to fit 5-BBO.1813 or by mail to Mayor's Office of Children and Youth, Metro City Hall, 225 Polk Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203 • • 78 The Forum for Youth Investment ci i 1' 11 r;,*� The Forum for Youth Investment 7064 Eastern Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20011 R 202.207.3333 F. 202.207.3329 youth @forumfyi.org www.forumfyi.org -7L CITY OF IOWA CITY m M E 't MORANDUM DATE: September 30, 2008 TO: Youth Advisory Commission FROM: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk RE: Website Activity Below are traffic counts for the Youth Advisory Commission website for the dates ranging from Friday, July 18, 2008 to Tuesday, September 30, 2008. Daily Totals: Youth Advisory Commission — Home Total: 432 Over Span: 75 day(s) Average Hits Per Day: 6 Daily Totals: Youth Advisory Commission - About the YAC: Hifi Total: 200 Over Span: 75 day(s) Average Hits Per Day: 3 Daily Totals: Youth Advisory Commission - About the YAC: Lofi Total: 191 Over Span: 75 day(s) Average Hits Per Day: 3 Daily Totals: Youth Advisory Comm. -Alumni of the Youth Advisory Commission Total: 201 Over Span: 75 day(s) Average Hits Per Day: 3 Daily Totals: Youth Advisory Commission - Event Submission Total: 113 Over Span: 75 day(s) Average Hits Per Day: 2 Daily Totals: Youth Advisory Commission - Frequently Asked Questions Total: 139 Over Span: 75 day(s) Average Hits Per Day: 2 Daily Totals: Youth Advisory Commission — Membership Total: 232 Over Span: 75 day(s) Average Hits Per Day: 3 YAC Website Totals Page 2 Daily Totals: Youth Advisory Commission - Video Library Total: 175 Over Span: 75 day(s) Average Hits Per Day: 2 Daily Totals: Youth Advisory Commission - Youth Empowerment Grant Overview Total: 534 Over Span: 75 day(s) Average Hits Per Day: 7