Youth Involvement Task Force - 2018 BEST PRACTICES REPORT 2018 EDITION - THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS
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Youth Involvement Task Force
2018 BEST PRACTICES REPORT
2018 EDITION
THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS
THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS Stephen K. Benjamin Mayor of Columbia (SC) President Bryan Barnett Mayor of Rochester Hills Vice President Greg Fischer Mayor of Louisville Second Vice President Shane Bemis Mayor of Gresham Chair, Youth Involvement Task Force Tom Cochran CEO and Executive Director About The United States Conference of Mayors The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,407 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook. com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors. About The Mayors’ Youth Involvement Task Force The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Youth Involvement Task Force, led by Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis, is dedicated to helping our nation’s mayors provide and expand programming that helps young people (middle school through college) engage in civics, leadership development, internship programs, voter registration, community outreach, and more. For more information on the Mayors’ Youth Involvement Tast Force, please contact James Kirby at 202.861.6759 or jkirby@usmayors.org.
Contents
About the Survey.............................. v
Survey Results................................... vi
Individual City Highlights............1
Austin..................................................................... 2
Boston................................................................... 4
Columbia............................................................ 6
Dallas..................................................................... 8
Durham............................................................. 10
Gresham.......................................................... 12
Knoxville......................................................... 14
Lauderdale Lakes.................................. 16
Louisville........................................................ 18
Richmond....................................................... 20
Rochester Hills......................................... 22
South Bend.................................................. 24
iv
About the Survey
In 2018, The U.S. Conference of Mayors Youth PARTICIPATING CITIES:
Involvement Task Force, released its Youth
Albany Gresham
Involvement Best Practices Survey to help cities
Albuquerque Henderson
share their efforts in connecting youth with civic Alexandria Indianapolis
engagement opportunities in their communities. Anaheim Kansas City, MO
Austin Knoxville
Baton Rouge Largo
Cities were asked to provide information on Boston Lauderdale Lakes
their youth councils, leadership programs, Clarksville Little Rock
internship opportunities, voter registration, Columbia Louisville
Columbus, OH Madison
hosting city-wide days and events with a focus
Corpus Christi Nashville
on youth, connecting elementary school-age Costa Mesa Orlando
youth with civics programming, connecting Dallas Philadelphia
with youth through social media, and more. Dayton Providence
Dolton Reno
Dubuque Richmond (VA)
The survey was released in order to obtain critical Durham Rochester Hills
information surrounding youth engagement to Eden Prairie Rowlett
first create a baseline of information for the U.S. Elizabeth Sacramento
Evanston South Bend
Conference of Mayors’ newly established Youth Findlay Sumter
Involvement Task Force, and also to help other Fontana Tacoma
cities develop or expand youth programs in their Fort Wayne Tampa
Las Vegas Tempe
cities. 54 cities total participated in the survey.
Merced Torrance
Miami Lakes Tukwila
Grand Rapids West Sacramento
v
Survey
Results 80% of all cities surveyed maintain an acitve
youth council that helps advise city programming.
89% of all cities surveyed have a youth leadership
program that helps young people learn leadership and
professional skills.
89% of all cities surveyed adminster or help
administer an internship program for youth.
85% of all cities surveyed actively engage with
youth in their communities through social media
52% of all cities surveyed are actively engaged in a
voter registration effort for youth in their communities.
54% of all cities surveyed actively engage elementary
school-aged children in some form of civics programming.
48% of all cities surveyed host a “Youth Day”
or hold additional city-wide events for youth
vi
City
Highlights
1
Mayor TEXAS
Steve
Austin
Adler
Austin Youth Council as they gain professional experience in the Before interning, students have three
workforce. It is a 6-week program where interviews where they prepare with cover
The City of Austin provides a number of
interns work with city departments and letters, resumes and a write-up describing
programs and initiatives to foster youth
other local organizations in the Austin why they are interested in their respective
leadership and civic engagement. With a
area. Students in the program participate internship option.
variety of departments and organizations
in “Leadership Days,“ where youth go to
working to assist youth, the city has The Youth & Family Services Office offers
the LBJ Library to participate in classroom
provided many young people with additional internship programs for Austin
activities relating to historical events
imperative skills and experience. youth. The office has four Youth Summer
that have impacted the youth of
previous generations. Internship Programs: the Emerging
One of Austin’s flagship youth programs is
Leaders Summer Internship Program,
the Austin Youth Council (AYC). The
The Emerging Leaders program has also the Get Ready! STEAM-based Internship
Council advises city programming and
worked with additional organizations Program, the Aviation Department
specific council initiatives. The AYC has
within the Austin community including: Internship Program, and the Austin
worked on Austin’s budget office
Leadership Austin, the Conversation Convention Center Internship Program.
proposals and has also held citywide
Corps, and the Bullock Museum. Each has There are multiple requirements that the
homelessness drives to provide homeless
offered the student interns the opportu- student interns must meet in order to
individuals with hygiene essentials. The
nity to engage in civil conversations about complete their internships. Once they
AYC hosts Career Fest, an annual citywide
real topics related to the world around have been accepted, the interns must
event where the AYC provides all high
them and helping them enhance soft skills. complete an onboarding process, attend
school students, throughout the city of
orientation, create three S.M.A.R.T. goals,
Austin, the opportunity to network with Austin Corps and present a presentation at the end of
over 150 vendors that include colleges,
Austin Corps is an off-campus government the program.
trade schools, businesses, city depart-
ments, and more. class with the City of Austin and Austin
Independent School District (ISD), where Community Partners
Internship Programming high school seniors learn about various The City of Austin has a number of
departments throughout the City. During community partners and departments that
Austin’s Youth & Family Services Office
each fall semester, students learn about assist with youth leadership. The Depart-
has several Youth Summer Internship
the operations of Austin’s city depart- ment of Aviation and the Convention
Programs for Austin’s young people. One,
ments. During the spring semester, Center have played an important role as
in particular, is the Emerging Leaders
students intern at specific departments they have participated in hosting interns
Summer Internship Program. This
where they learn professional skills (about 20 each) annually for the last three
initiative has a focus on enhancing
including professional writing and attire, years. Additionally, Bank of America has
leadership skills for high school students
task completing, and prioritizing. been a sponsor for the Emerging Leaders
2Summer Internship Program for the last
six years, providing 100% of the funding.
The program employs at least 55 youth
interns to work in jobs throughout the city
to develop leadership skills and attain
real-world work experience.
The Boy Scouts of America has multiple
programs and initiatives that focus on the
empowerment of underprivileged youth
through the means of education: the City
has placed 25 high school interns at the
Boy Scouts through the City of Austin
Summer Internship Program.
Youth Spin is a radio program that offers
perspectives through the lens of Austin
Youth. The collective has been recognized
nationally by the National Federation of
Broadcasters as a model for youth radio
programs. Youth Spin also participates in
PRX, the Public Radio Exchange. Their high school student aspired to be active in Members of the City of
pieces have been featured and broad- the community, despite his challenges. Austin’s Youth Council
casted nationally. Other City of Austin
Departments and Divisions have This student applied for and was accepted
supported Summer into the program. Throughout his
internship, he grew more and more
Youth Programs by taking on interns
and providing them with professional confident to report to work without his
experience. anxiety dog. The following year, this
intern applied for the 2018 Bank of
Real World Impact America Leadership Program where he
graduated into Alumni status. This
Austin’s youth engagement programs have
student’s parents continue to express their
provided youth with the tools they need to
gratitude for providing their son with the
further their development both socially
opportunity to experience the profes-
and professionally. A previous Youth
sional work environment, while sharp-
Summer Program Intern with disabilities
ening soft skills, and helping him over-
completed a 6-week internship program
come his anxiety.
with the Aviation Department in 2016 &
2017. His interest was in Engineering,
Computer Science, and Graphic Design
at the time he applied for the Aviation
Department Internship Program. This
3Mayor MASSACHUSETTS
Martin J.
Boston
Walsh
Leadership Development Youth Lead the Change during July and August. BCYF also offers a
program called SuperTeens, an initiative
Mayor Martin J. Walsh has been a driving Youth Lead the Change is the first youth-
that exists in every Boston neighborhood
force for many of Boston’s youth led participatory budgeting process of it’s
to help foster teen engagement.
programs. His office runs a youth leader- kind. Created by Mayor Walsh, this
ship initiative that provides over 3,500 initiative allows youth to decide how one Participants attend weekly leadership
youth entry-level employment experience, million dollars of the City’s budget is development workshops, and gain
with more than 200 community-based spent. Boston youth collaborate with hands-on employment experience by
organizations. These jobs give youth one another - sharing ideas, developing working in BCYF community centers and
experiences that are engaging and projects, and voting to select projects participating in field trips to Boston’s arts
meaningful. The City of Boston addition- to fund. and enrichment institutions. Teens receive
ally offers a youth internship program for a stipend at the end of the program if they
those interested in contributing to the Department of Boston Centers complete all required activities and meet
inner workings of the city. for Youth & Familes attendance goals.
The Department of Boston Centers for
Mayor’s Youth Council Youth Voter Registration
Youth & Families (BCYF) division of
Mayor Walsh also helped establish the Youth Engagement & Employment The City of Boston not only works to
Mayor’s Youth Council, which encourages (DYEE) is a one-stop engagement and assist youth with their professional
youth civic engagement and participation resource center for all topics relating to development, but also helps register
in government. Members of the Youth youth. They connect, advocate for, and young voters in its community with
Council are appointed by Mayor Walsh to serve young residents in Boston, helping programs and ordinances to improve
connect, engage, and empower Boston’s youth develop the necessary skills and civic engagement.
diverse youth population. Over 90 youth abilities that they need as they continue to
are selected to be on the Council. The move forward. In 2018, Mayor Walsh signed a citywide
Council works on specific committees ordinance increasing access to voter
that bring a youth perspective on focus DYEE connects teens age 15-18 to jobs registration. This new legislation aims to
areas such as arts and culture, civic throughout the year, engaging Boston’s provide more opportunities for residents
engagement, education, and more. youth in the civic process, and providing to submit voter registration forms when
opportunities for youth career develop- routinely interacting with City depart-
ment. BCYF also offers 200 youth, age ments and agencies including the Boston
13-14, the opportunity to gain high-quality Public Library, the Boston Transportation
service learning and leadership experience Department, Boston Public Schools, and
4BCYF. The ordinance has made it possible manage, and sustain community-bene- leader for social justice. Malachi has
for city departments to provide voter fiting projects, and to provide them with worked at the City of Boston’s Depart-
registration forms to youth at locations ongoing training, mentoring, and financial ment of Youth Engagement and Employ-
that they frequent. support to actualize their ideas. Working ment and the Mayor’s Office of
with industry leaders in the fields of Economic Development.
In 2018, Boston Public Schools Welcome marketing, technology, community
Centers and high schools will provide development, and finance, the program Serving as an MBK Ambassador and
pre-registration information and forms to provides experiential learning opportuni- Advisory Board Member for My Brother’s
all students eligible to pre-register to vote, ties for youth - building readiness for jobs Keeper Boston, Malachi has offered
and also to parents or legal guardians and careers through communication, remarks at local community events, has
when registering children for school. project management, leadership, been featured on CNN to speak about the
Boston Public Schools will develop a and teamwork. injustices that he noticed growing up in a
policy to ensure that as many eligible low-income environment, and also had
students as possible have the opportunity Social Media Outreach the opportunity to introduce former
to vote on Election Day. President Barack Obama at the final MBK
To teach youth about city programs, the
summit in the White House. Mentoring
Day of Service City of Boston’s social media team works
and youth advocacy are two matters that
with City departments that engage with
Boston regularly administers programs he holds dear to his heart.
youth using Twitter and Facebook to
for younger children to participate in a broadcast specific opportunities available Continuously aspiring to be a voice for
variety of city activities. Annually, BCYF to youth. In the Department of Youth those in need, Malachi is majoring in
plans a day of service in April, granting the Engagement, social media is one of the Political Science and Communications at
opportunity for elementary school-age primary tools used to inform youth of Northeastern University as a TORCH
children to participate in the “One Boston employment and leadership opportuni- Scholar. It is his hope that he can continue
Day” service events. ties. DYEE also depends on text notifica- to pave the way for those who can benefit
tions to engage and communicate from his example, and to one day even
This day of service is intended to reflect
with youth. serve as Mayor of the City of Boston.
upon and honor those lost and injured
during the Boston Marathon bombings.
Success Stories
There are service events and activities held
throughout the city. Children, along with Boston’s youth programs have provided
their parents or guardians, help clean many young Boston residents with the
parks, visit fire stations, and participate skills and experience they need to pursue
in city beautification in Boston’s their aspirations in the world. Malachi
open spaces. Hernandez’s was born and raised in
Upham’s Corner, a neighborhood of
Community Partners Boston. Malachi is an active member
within his community. He has worked
Since 2015, The United Way Youth
with nonprofit organizations, including
Venture partnership with the City of
The City School and Beantown Society,
Boston has served 800 youth in Boston
where he developed and strengthened his
age 16-20. The collaboration invests in
leadership skills to become an effective
teams of youth to develop, launch,
5Mayor S O U T H C A RO L I N A
Stephen K.
Columbia
Benjamin
Columbia Youth Commission political process. To create a new avenue •• Designing program evaluation measures
for their active leadership, the City of that consider aspects of a program that
The City of Columbia is currently in the
Columbia Youth Commission will meet matter most to youth
process of re-establishing its Youth
with the Mayor, City Council, and key city
Commission, and will be expanding it in •• Partnering with youth organizations on
staff to discuss how various issues affect
order to be both representative of the City shared issues
the youth in the community.
of Columbia and also Richland County
at-large. Members of the Columbia Youth •• Preparing peers for leadership roles,
Commission will be provided with an postsecondary education, and profes-
Columbia’s Youth Commission is a sional careers
opportunity to speak directly with
program for local students to provide
members of Columbia’s City Council,
leadership skills, and to improve services The City of Columbia and Richland
key senior staff within the City, and
for youth in the community. The group of County will hold a city and county-wide
community leaders that work directly in
young leaders will work to bridge the gap election, similar to how typical municipal
areas that are critical to the community’s
between adults and youth, fostering a and county elections are held. One youth
quality of life.
greater sense of unity, communication, commissioner will be elected from each
and partnership throughout the City. Members of the Commission will receive city district, with three at-large
The program extends a warm welcome to an education on how local government representatives from the County.
students, between the ages of 14 and 18, operates and responds to the needs of There will be a total of seven (7)
to become actively involved with a community. people on the Youth Commission.
their community.
Roles and responsibilities of the Youth Internship Programming
The primary purpose of Columbia’s Youth Youth Commission will include: The Columbia Urban League helps admin-
Commission is to encourage youth ister Columbia’s Science Technology
involvement, enhance leadership skills, •• Commenting on legislation and policies Enrichment Program (STEP) -which serves
and to voice the policy ideas and concerns that impact youth as the City’s primary internship program.
of Columbia’s youth. The City also aims
to provide civic participation and involve- •• Creating public service programs that STEP, formerly known as the Summer
ment in the community while promoting improve the lives of youth Work Experience Leadership Program
positive activities and opportunities for (SWELP), is a transition from the Summer
its youth. •• Monitoring and measuring the effective- Work Experience Leadership Program,
ness of youth programs and policies and maintains an evidence-based, best-
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin believes practice career development initiative for
that it is imperative for youth to be primarily disadvantaged and underserved
involved with their government and local youth between the age of 14 and 19.
6The Columbia Urban League provides EngenuitySC has a partnership with
work experiences that include exposure to Richland County School District One.
the Science, Technology, Engineering, and In June of 2013, EngenuitySC launched
Mathematics (STEM) skills necessary to a new program with Lower Richland
obtain and maintain employment in the High School to educate students,
emerging global workforce. teachers and parents on the importance
The program is a way to deter youth from of STEM, and expose them to career
violence and expose them to careers that opportunities and pathways to success
will help them compete in today’s available in the Midlands.
workforce. The City of Columbia, which
Over the past five years, thanks to the
has been a sponsor of the program since
leadership of Richland County School
2010, has provided 23 sites for students to
District One, this program has
gain valuable work experience. Students
work two weeks per session from June 11 expanded to include the arts - taking us
through August 3. from STEM to STEAM - and has
extended to three more schools in the
Youth Voter Registration Lower Richland cluster: Hopkins and
Southeast Middle Schools and Gadsden
Columbia has several groups that
Elementary School.
regularly and actively assist high school
students in registering to vote. One Also, as of the 2017-2018 school year,
group in particular targets predomi- The City of Columbia is proud to be
nantly minority high schools and also delivering its signature entrepreneurship
educates them on qualifications for and soft skills programs at CA Johnson,
voting. The University of South Carolina Eau Claire and Columbia High Schools.
also has a group on campus that works
to register college students.
Community Partners
Cigna Insurance donated $25,000 to
start the Books 2 Boys + Girls program,
which provides free books to K-5
students in Columbia, by hosting
themed book fairs. The program has
also recently been expanded to include
a community policing component,
encouraging police officers to person-
ally provide the boys and girls with
books. The aim is to help build strong,
positive relationships between partici-
pating youth and the Columbia’s
police officers.
7Mayor TEXAS
Mike
Dallas
Rawlings
Dallas Youth Commission Participants engage in interactive and and valuable workplace skills while
focused discussions to address the needs providing area companies, nonprofits and
Over the past 24 years, The Dallas Youth
of young people in their cities, as well as government entities a meaningful way to
Commission has provided a much-needed
the challenges that they face as future make an investment in Dallas youth and its
voice for students in Dallas with the
leaders. Participants also identify possible future workforce.
purpose of addressing and advocating for
avenues for youth to become active in
issues and bringing impactful change to Under Mayor Rawlings, the MIFP has
their communities. They also help identify
the community. The diverse, 15-member vastly increased the number of internships
the roles that youth and youth-led organi-
board consists of high school students that it provides - from 59 in 2001 to 392 in
zations can play in current public policy
who aim to serve their community while 2017 - making it one of the largest intern-
areas.
gaining the tools necessary to become ship programs in the country. Mayor
effective and dedicated leaders. The North Texas Regional Youth Forum Rawlings aims to provide even more
showcases examples and projects where opportunities for young scholars to gain
Since its inception, the Youth Commission
youth are already making a difference. In valuable hands-on experiences as they
has spearheaded numerous projects that
2017, the Forum focused on three major become Dallas’ future workforce.
include youth forums, community service
issues: education, healthy lifestyle,
events, crime prevention programs, an The MIFP is an eight-week, paid summer
secondary education, and career planning.
anti- smoking ordinance, and a youth internship program that introduces Dallas
resources guide. The Commission Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program public high school students to careers and
maintains a focus on increasing student employment opportunities in industries
voter registration and turnout in local and Dallas has an intensive youth internship
and companies where they have expressed
national elections, and utilizes Instagram, program for youth to help kick-start their
interest. Modeled after the prestigious
Twitter and Facebook to engage directly professional careers. The Mayor’s Intern
White House Fellows, MIFP prepares
with youth in the city. Fellows Program (MIFP) was designed in
motivated students to become the leaders
2007 by Education is Freedom (EIF), with
of tomorrow. Since its inception in 2008,
North Texas Regional the mission of helping all Dallas youth
MIFP has provided 2,165 students with
Youth Forum pursue a college education or career. In an
internships.
effort to realize this mission, EIF searched
Young leaders in Dallas have the opportu- for opportunities to help create an Mayor’s Intern Fellows work in a variety of
nity to participate in the North Texas educated workforce that could build fields including accounting, advertising/
Regional Youth Forum. The forum effective companies and strong communi- marketing, architecture, banking and
provides a platform for young people to ties in today’s knowledge-based economy. financial services, education, engineering,
engage in an open dialogue with each EIF works to introduce exemplary Dallas government, healthcare, hospitality, law,
other, across North Texas, on issues of high school students to future careers, public relations, technology, nonprofits,
importance to youth. professional employment opportunities, and government agencies. The program
8Members of the Dallas Youth Commission
provides extensive work-readiness training across North Texas come to SMU’s In 2017, at SMU’S McFarlin Auditorium,
to all students who apply, and additional campus to engage with big ideas and great Orsak gave her TEDx Kids talk titled
leadership development to those selected conversations. The experience is free of “Take Your Seat at the Table.” She
as interns. charge, and as part of the experieince, focused her talk on how no one should
each student volunteers 4 hours of service ever feel ashamed of their age. In her talk,
As internships draw to a close in August, back to their community. she highlighted her non-profit organiza-
students and their employers, program tion Story Power Inc. and the Dallas
sponsors, and additional area leaders join When Heather Hankamer, the Director of Youth Commission. Her talk was an
the Mayor at an impressive Intern Fellows TEDx at Southern Methodist University, enormus success, and has inspired
Luncheon celebrating the scholars and saw a news story on Fox 4 that featured middle schoolers from across Dallas to
their outstanding accomplishments. high school senior Mary Orsak and her engage in public service.
work with the Dallas Youth Commission,
TEDx Kids@SMU she knew that Mary would have a story to
TEDxKids@SMU is a one-of-a-kind tell - a story from a student leader in local
experience and the first TED-style government who would undoubtedly
conference for kids. Middle school inspire an audience of middle schoolers.
students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade from
9Mayor N O RT H C A RO L I N A
Steve
Durham
Schewel
Durham Youth Comission The ultimate goal is for youth to have Each year, Kids Voting Durham provides
decision-making power in the City of an authentic voting experience for local,
The Durham Youth Commission (DYC)
Durham, and in Durham County, so that state, and national elections in which K-12
was created in 2005 to actively involve
they can be active participants in creating students are given an opportunity to vote
youth in policy issues affecting youth,
community change. on the same candidates and issues as
broaden the scope of youth leadership in
adults, similar to a mock election.
public affairs, promote experimental Youth Empowerment Solutions Students also hold their own candidate
learning on the functions of government,
Youth Empowered Solutions (YES!) is a forum and develop a candidate guide.
and develop positive civic leadership for
non-profit organization that empowers The Durham Youth Commission partners
the future of the community.
youth, in partnership with adults, to create with Kids Voting Durham to help facilitate
The DYC is one of 25 chartered North community change. YES! is working with these initiatives.
Carolina State Youth Councils and the Office on Youth and the DYC to
consists of 25-30 high school-age members cultivate support and buy-in from city and The Durham YouthWork
who are selected through an application county leadership to create opportunities Internship Program
process and serve one to four-year terms. for youth to lead and to set the future Along with the DYC, the City of Durham
Members are taught civic engagement and direction for the City of Durham. offers an internship program for
attend conferences around the state to Durham’s young people. The Durham
collaborate and learn from other youth YES! is supporting the DYC in redefining
YouthWork Internship Program offers
councils. Focuses include team building, their vision and scope, and providing
Durham youth, age 14-24, the opportunity
leadership, and participation in various training in racial equity, advocacy, and
to gain work experience and develop skills
service learning initiatives throughout the other skills. YES! is also working closely
through paid summer internships in local
region. with the Office on Youth to develop
businesses, nonprofits, as well as within
strategies that truly empower youth as
City and County government.
In 2018, DYC will work with the City of leaders and decision-makers within local
Durham’s Office on Youth to redefine its government. Approximately 200 youth, and more than
scope and purpose, with an emphasis on 70 employers, benefit from the six-week
shifting from programming and service to Youth Voter Registration internship each summer, and the City of
advocacy and youth empowerment. As Durham’s Office on Youth and the Durham is committed to expanding the
part of this transition, youth will build Durham Youth Commission partner on program over the next several years with
skills in racial equity, advocacy, and other various initiatives with Kids Voting the goal of eventually hosting 1,000 youth
areas. Youth participants will work with Durham, a non-partisan, non-profit organi- annually.
elected officials and other Durham youth zation that helps young people understand
to create new opportunities for authentic and believe in the power that they have as The YouthWork Internship program
youth engagement in local government. active citizens and informed voters. operates through a partnership of the City
10of Durham’s Office of Economic and 13-18 years old. Activities and events active role in improving the transit system,
Workforce Development, Durham offered are tailored based on youth and also to develop strategies to increase
County, Durham Public Schools’ Career preferences. Paid teen Marketing Ambas- ridership among youth.
and Technical Education, Durham sadors help expand outreach to teens by
Technical Community College, and Made promoting the offerings on social media In 2017, the City of Durham and Durham
in Durham. The team takes great care to and keeping announcements fresh and County jointly created a new youth effort
place students with employers based on relevant. to help provide direction for youth
fit, needs, and interest. During the programs throughout the Durham area.
selection process, all applicants are The City of Durham, with guidance from The aim is to help all youth in Durham,
interviewed and receive professional youth and Public Affairs experts, is actively age 5-24, have the resources and support
feedback on their performance. investigating strategies to increase its social that they need to move forward. The
media presence to engage youth, not only initiative is focused on facilitating
Before internships begin, supervisors for the MyDurham program, but also for authentic youth engagement in decision-
receive training on best practices for the Durham Youth Commission and making processes.
supervising and working with youth. Office on Youth activities.
Interns participate in training sessions on The new initiaitve fosters better alignment,
career-readiness skills, financial literacy, Community Partners coordination, and evaluation of City and
resume writing, managing time cards, and County youth programs and services. The
The City of Durham has partnered with a
other fundamentals intrinsic to a profes- partnership between the City and County
number of organizations to assist Durham
sional workplace. Interns receive support is taking a data-driven approach to
youth with issues and initiatives in multiple
from summer counselors during place- partnering with youth, the community,
areas. For example: GoDurham provides
ment, and feedback is collected and other stakeholders to identify needs
public transportation within the City of
throughout the process to help inform and achieve positive outcomes.
Durham and operates bus and demand-
ongoing improvements. YouthWork is a response service to residents and to those
core component of the education-to- visiting Durham. GoDurham also helps
career system being created by business, riders plan transit trips, provides ride-
education, government, and nonprofits matching tools, and also finds open
partners. vanpools and additional transportation
services. In August 2018, GoDurham
YouthWork aims to create a system of
joined GoTriangle, GoRaleigh, and
career pathways and support mechanisms
GoCary to launch the Youth GoPass
that enable all Durham youth to graduate
program. This new service allows anyone
from high school, earn a postsecondary
18 years or younger to ride any bus in the
credential, and secure living-wage work by
region for free.
age 25.
GoDurham also enacted a program that
Connecting Through enables 19-21-year-olds, pursuing their
Social Media GED, to ride the bus free of charge.
To improve youth outreach, the City of GoDurham is exploring strategies to
Durham Parks and Recreation Depart- engage youth in the Youth GoPass roll-out
ment launched the MyDurham program, a and hopes to create a youth ambassador
free, membership-based, after-school program that will empower youth to
program open to young adults between promote the program to peers, take an
11Mayor OREGON
Shane
Gresham
Bemis
Gresham Youth Advisory Council Gresham Summer Gresham Youth Summit
The City of Gresham maintains a strong Works Program
The City of Gresham hosted a Youth
Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Council The City of Gresham has a SummerWorks Summit in 2018 comprised of youth from
members work to bridge and create an program that provides paid internships for six area high schools, including alternative
overall understanding between local youth community youth in every department high schools in the area. Approximately
and the city by finding creative and within the city, supported financially by 100 youth came to City Hall, and Mayor
effective ways to educate the public the county. The program not only Bemis moderated discussion on three
concerning issues affecting Gresham’s provides paid summer work and resume topics, with guest speakers for each of the
young people. building, but also provides a glimpse of topics. The moderated discussion areas
the various public service jobs within included safety in schools, bullying, and
Gresham’s Youth Advisory Council
the city. technology. The technology segment took
provides a voice to elected officials and
city decision makers regarding public a deep dive particularly into the future of
Fifteen interns total are placed throughout
issues, projects, and proposals that have jobs and education within the City
the city departments during the summer.
an impact on youth. The YAC provides an of Gresham.
The internships provide area youth with
annual report to the City Council on their hands-on experience and a chance to The summit began with a presentation of
projects over the past year and their do meaningful work for the Gresham “Youth by the Numbers,” where the size,
priorities for the community. During Community. political opinions, and facts about youth
bimonthly meetings, members of the YAC in Oregon were presented to the youth.
also focus on leadership and professional The city offers internship opportunities
The summit integrated technology and
skill-building. in areas including: natural resources,
utilized an app for a live polling feature to
recycling solid waste, stormwater, urban
Gresham’s YAC have recently spear- gauge the participants’ feelings on
design and planning, human resources,
headed two different mural projects in particular topics and questions. The
IT, fleet services, community livability,
town, in collaboration with Gresham Mayor’s message to the youth was clear:
summer recreation, facilities, parks, the
Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team. be engaged in your community and
city attorney’s office, transportation,
The murals celebrate diversity and unity government: if you want to see a change,
as well as the Office of Governance
within the City of Gresham. YAC has also you need to be engaged to help make it
and Management.
helped organize and achieve two Guinness a reality.
Book of World Records, with members of
the Gresham community, at the City’s
annual Arts Festival.
12Helping Students Learn About variety of books from infant to sixth grade Social Media Outreach
Civics & Community Involvement reading levels. Children are encouraged to
The City of Gresham has Facebook,
read the books while at the restaurant and
Twitter and Instagram accounts that
Mayor Bemis continues to stay connected take them home with them. The program
promote the youth internship programs to
to the local community by personally operates with book donations from local
help recruit youth and highlight the great
visiting a local high school and guest- bookstores and resident book donations.
work of local youth and the YAC.
teaching a U.S. government class. During
the class, the Mayor speaks on issues Commission on Children
Real World Success
pertaining to local-government and and Families
includes a long Q&A session for the Sarah was a high school student that
Two years ago, The City of Gresham participated in a paid 180-hour internship
students. He plans to continue guest established a Commission on Children
teaching at the local high schools annually. with the City in the communications and
and Familes. The commission met IT departments. Sarah participated in a
Every year, Mayor Bemis and the City regularly for a year to research and advise digital media and design program in high
Council recognize an exemplary youth the City Council on the development, school and had a passion for photog-
from each of the eight local high schools. implementation, and maintenance of raphy and graphic design. After her
The Great Young Citizen Awards include a strategies, policies and programs designed internship, she was offered a part-time
reception with the Mayor and Council to strengthen and engage Gresham’s position in Gresham’s communications
and recognition at a City Council meeting. Children and families. The city has department to extend her internship
The youth are nominated from their undertaken multiple recommendations while she studied integrated media at the
school and the group represents diverse from the Commission including: local community college.
and well-rounded students. mentoring for youth, youth programming
within the city, construction of a Boys & After a total of 6 months, the city created
Mayor Bemis and the City of Gresham Girls Club, Summer Kids in the Park the new job classification of public
host elementary students annually for a (SKIP), Late Night Basketball, and more. service apprentice for Sarah so that she
“City Day.” Fourth graders spend a unit would continue her good work for the
learning about the city, which includes a One primary recommendation from the city and continue to build her skills
field trip to City Hall. Mayor Bemis leads a commission was to expand youth mentor- part-time while attending college.
mock council for the children and quizzes ship programs, and despite not having
them on city facts. The children also tour many nonprofit programs operating in
the police and fire departments and learn that space, Gresham got creative and
about recycling. found community leaders who were
willing to form a new nonprofit.
Gresham Reads The city provided office space in the
Mayor Bemis and his wife created a Mayor’s office at City Hall for the team,
program called Gresham Reads. The and helped the new nonprofit raise initial
program aims to expand literacy among funding to get up and running. The
children from infants to grade school age. program is now thriving, changing lives,
Eight Gresham restaurants have book- and continues to pull Gresham residents
shelves for the Gresham Reads program. and members of the business community
The city stocks the bookshelves with a into their mission as they grow.
13Mayor TENNESSEE
Madeline
Knoxville
Rogero
The City of Knoxville’s Building on the SOS Summit, Mayor their peers, and their community.
Save Our Sons Initiative Rogero hosted a Sons Summit in 2015 to An application and interview process
hear from over 150 boys and young men will be conducted to select the Council.
Knoxville has taken enormous strides to of color, age 10-18, across Knoxville for
hear the voices of its youth, especially frank discussions about the barriers they Community Partnerships
young men of color. The city has devel- face and the strategies they would like to To sponsor youth involvement in Knox-
oped numerous strategies to raise up see developed to increase opportunities ville throughout the year, the City collabo-
youth voices and help youth feel more for success. Participants discussed how rates with community partners to host
protected and heard in the community. their voices could be used to create, safe, back to school events, community
A big influence in Knoxville’s youth healthy, prosperous communities for clean-ups, leadership symposiums, and
involvement programs is the City’s Save themselves and for their peers. workshops. The SOS Initiative has hosted
Our Sons Initiative (SOS). In 2013, Mayor two Sons Summit Empowerment Sessions
Mayor Rogero empowered the youth to
Rogero convened a local advisory group consisting of half days that focus on
plan, market, and facilitate the summit.
of community leaders and stakeholders to strategies and breakout sessions that help
Data were recorded and evaluated from
form the SOS Initiative and identify participants overcome barriers to success.
both summits leading to the launching of
challenges facing Knoxville’s boys and Surveys are distributed in an effort to
several initiatives and pilot programs to
young men of color. The program was receive insight from the young men to
enhance opportunities for post-secondary
established in an effort to eliminate increase the overall effectiveness of city
education, and skills for youth to enter the
violence-related deaths, address opportu- and community efforts.
21st-century workforce successfully.
nity gaps, and to create a blueprint of
The city’s SOS Initiative collaborates with
success through programs designed to SOS Youth Advisory Council additional community partners to help
help participants think more broadly
Currently, SOS is in the process of young people develop leadership skills.
about the future.
developing a Youth Advisory Council. The One such program is Project Reach, a
To make certain that all stakeholders were Council will consist of eight young men partnership with the YWCA to provide a
heard, Mayor Rogero hosted an SOS and boys of color - age 14-24. The young paid internship that offers personal and
Summit in 2014: over 180 participants men will become ambassadors for youth professional development to at-risk youth
from more than 60 agencies, organiza- involvement, community engagement, and community service learning projects.
tions, and churches participated. The and community organizing activities. In
summit helped participants better addition, the young men will receive Project Hope
understand individual challenges and personal and professional development Project Hope is a partnership with
identify solutions to increase the effective- training and be provided with a platform Johnson University that provides a $500
ness of current community efforts in to learn how to exercise responsibility and stipend to teams of high school students
creating education and career pipelines. ownership over outcomes for themselves, to incentivize them to engage with and to
14Youth involved in Knoxville’s
paid internship program
talk in-depth about their communities. Internship Opportunities
Each team is responsible for designing and
The City of Knoxville offers a six- week
delivering a community-based project that
paid internship opportunities for young
meets a critical need within the City of
people age 17-22 during the summer.
Knoxville.
Internships provide job shadowing in City
The projects can address a range of issues Departments, professional development
including the criminal justice system, food classes, community servant leader training,
inequality, health disparities, affordable and a community service project.
housing, spatial justice, and economic
Interns are provided the opportunity to
development. The City also partners with
use a social media campaign to advertise a
Vine Middle School for the Real Talk
city-sponsored skate party that promotes
Program, an initiative that encourages and
unity and non-violence. In the past, Mayor
empowers students to focus on topics that
Rogero, KPD Police Chief David Rausch,
impact their futures in terms of college and
KFD Fire Chief Stan Sharp, City of
career development.
Knoxville Department Heads and their
families, and over 200 youth from across
the city have attended.
15Mayor FLORIDA
Hazelle P.
Lauderdale Lakes
Rogers
Lauderdale Lakes The Youth Council has been involved in practitioners - through the sharing of
Student Youth Council several noteworthy projects. The Mayor innovative ideas and prevention strategies
and Commissioner for a Day project is an that have been successful in the African
In 2009, the City adopted an ordinance annual program held in May in collabora- American community.
that formed a Student Youth Council, tion with the City of Lauderdale Lakes
composed of students who attend several Youth Council and the Lauderdale Lakes A major component of the program was
of the schools in Lauderdale Lakes. Kiwanis Club. directed toward exploring alternatives to
violence among young people.
The City Commission was determined The Youth Council has an opportunity to The agenda was designed to showcase
to create the Youth Council in order to learn about the policy-making process and successful programs and promote a
provide an opportunity for the youth to operations of the municipal govern- positive exchange of ideas among youth.
acquire knowledge of and appreciation ment. On the day before the event, the The Youth Council participated
for the American political system Council meets the Mayor, Commis- in workshops and panel discussions,
through active, hands-on participation. sioners, Executive Staff, the Police Chief providing helpful solutions in
The Youth Council was established to and Fire Chief. Members of the Youth preventing crime and violence within
serve the city in a number of ways: to Council later have the opportunity to the City of Lauderdale Lakes, and
keep the Mayor and Commission abreast play each of these roles. The youth also throughout the State of Florida.
of the issues that affect the city’s youth, have the opportunity to tour city
departments and meet with key leaders Since participating in the Conference,
assist with the planning of social, educa- the Youth Council has launched the
tional, cultural and recreational activities as they prepare. During the Mayor and
Commission for a Day event, partici- Stop the Violence Campaign in an effort
for youth, as well as work with the to reduce violence in schools. As they
Mayor, City Commission, and city pating youth conduct a mock Commis-
sion Meeting and discuss and vote on continue their efforts, the Council will
staff to provide service and leadership work closely with state and local
opportunities for the City’s young people. topics that are important to their
everyday lives. leaders.
The Youth Council consists of youth,
The Youth Council is incredibly proud of Voter Registration
grades 9-12, from local schools. The
students meet five days a week to the work that its doing with In an effort to encourage students to
combine their talents and energy to the “Preventing Crime in the Black take part in the political process, the
address particular issue areas and design Community Conference.” The conference city adopted a resolution to encourage
youth initiatives that fit their needs. is a collaborative effort sponsored by residents to take advantage of their
Attorney General Pam Bondi to foster opportunity to vote.
communication and action among
16VIRGINIA
Mayor
Allison
Silberberg
Alexandria
The Whereas clause in the resolution and how to turn any job into an invest- including social media. As a back to
stated the following: “Whereas, 18 to ment of time and effort for the future. school kickoff, summer camp participants
29-year-olds make up an estimated 31 created an anti-bullying and school safety
percent of the electorate yet on average in Summer Youth Employment Program video that was showcased on the City’s
the United States turn out to vote less than participants learn how to dress for an Media outlets including Facebook,
50 percent of the time; and Whereas, interview, how to conduct themselves in a Twitter, Instagram, the City’s Website,
young people are encouraged to register professional manner, how to value their and a local cable channel. The children
to vote and most importantly vote.” time commitments to a job, and how to were encouraged to share the video
make the most of their translatable skills with their friends and family. The Youth
Yout Internships and from any such opportunity. Participants Council is currently working on creating
Summer Jobs primarily work as clerical and financial its own social media page on Facebook.
services assistants.The youth are left
To assist youth with work experience and with a wealth of knowledge of working This page will highlight their accom-
career exploration, the City of Lauderdale in a municipal entity as well as how to plishments and encourage other youth
Lakes participates in the Summer Youth conduct themselves in a professional to become involved with their commu-
Employment Program through Career work environment. nity efforts. The Public Information
Source Broward. The key purpose of the Officer will assist with this project to
Summer Youth Employment Program is Connecting with Youth ensure that they are taking safety
to provide youth between the age of 16 Through Social Media precautions and being responsible
and 18 with a nine-week summer-long while developing and utilizing their
learning experience with lessons about The City of Lauderdale Lakes has used a
variety of strategies to reach youth, Facebook Page.
how to obtain a job, how to keep a job,
17Mayor KENTUCKY
Greg
Louisville
Fischer
One Love Louisville Youth Implementation Team Louisville’s Youth
The One Love Louisville-Be The One to The One Love Louisville Youth Implemen- Implementation Team (YIT)
Make a Difference campaign was born out tation Team (YIT), includes youth and has five primary goals:
of the Louisville Blueprint for Safe and young adults 13-24 years of age, who serve 1. Create and Promote Opportunities
Healthy Neighborhoods: Phase II report, as advisors to The Office of Safe and for Civic Engagement
published in January 2015. This campaign Healthy Neighborhood team and One
is a call to action to all sectors, communi- Love Louisville partners. 2. Improve Conditions that Hinder
ties and neighborhoods in Louisville. Educational Attainment
The primary goal of the Youth Implemen-
The main focus of this initiative is to allow tation Team is to assist with the execution 3. Support Economic Growth with a
every resident to realize that they have a of the One Love Louisville Youth Edition Focus on the Most Economically
stake in the well-being of the city. The Action Plan. As a member of the National Challenged Neighborhoods
Office for Safe and Healthy Neighbor- Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, YIT
hoods, along with its affiliates and has committed itself to narrowing a 4. Enhance the Quality of Intervention
partners, strongly believe that city violence percentage of its efforts to youth and with Individuals and Families at the
can only be reduced through a collective young adults from birth to age 24. First Sign of Risk
and organized effort.
5. Promote a Restorative
Youth Edition Action Plan
The City of Louisville maintains the belief Justice Community
Youth Edition focuses on increasing
that it cannot rely on a few individuals to
positive outcomes for youth who reside in
make a last change, it takes everyone.
Louisville Metro Police Department
One Love Louisville is a citywide strategy (LMPD) divisions one, two, and four.
to unite neighbors, provide opportunity
Local data illustrates that young adults
for youth, and to create healthy objectives
(age 18-30 years) lose their lives as a result
to help negate the violence.
of homicide at a far greater rate than than
any other age group in Louisville. By
focusing particular efforts on youth 24
years of age and under, Youth Edition has
the potential to reduce the number of
youth who are exposed to violence,
become victims of violence or
perpetuate violence.
18Members of Louisville’s Youth
Implementation Team
Members of the Youth Community Partners also provided with tips, tools, and
Implementation Team receive: workshops on how to land a job that
One Love Louisville partners include-
Mayor Greg Fischer, Louisville’s Chief of
they are truly interested in, as well as
•• Strong insight into Local Government how to be an employee that an employer
Community Building, Louisville’s Safe and
Healthy Neighborhoods’ Director, wants to hire. The program helps youth
•• Leadership Development skills
Louisville’s Youth Engagement and build a résumé and assists in polishing
•• Information about collaborative/ Communications Liaison, Junior Fellows, their interview skills. Financial manage-
group processes Louisville’s Metro Public Health and ment resources are also provided to all
Wellness representative, as well as the program participants.
•• An opportunity to meet leaders Louisville Metro Police Department.
throughout government, community,
faith, and corporate organizations Louisville Intern Opportunities
•• Knowledge of comprehensive city The City of Louisville also provides a
violence prevention efforts number of internship opportunities for
youth, one of the more popular oppor-
•• Attendance to various events tunities is called SummerWorks. The
and activities SummerWorks program is a collabora-
•• The opportunity to have their voices/ tion with Louisville Metro Government
thoughts/opinions be heard publically and private and public sector organiza-
tions that employ city youth from age
•• Resume building experiences 16-21 during the summer months.
•• The ability to inform and impact others As a participant in this free program,
on a large scale students receive information about job
•• 40+ community service hours
opportunities that align with age,
interests, and experience. Students are
19Mayor V I RG I N I A
Levar
Richmond
Stoney
Mayor’s Youth Academy exploration, local government immerse themselves in the process of
participation, civic engagement, public service and to make significant
Launched in 2010, the Mayor’s Youth
and community service. contributions toward the completion of
Academy is designed to develop Rich-
an important task or project - one that has
mond’s future leaders and workforce. The Youth Council participants are tasked a tangible, positive impact.
Mayor’s Youth Academy serves Richmond with researching issues affecting teens in
youth age 14-19. Richmond, developing a Youth Advocacy This “real world” setting allows partici-
Agenda, and presenting their recommen- pants to develop and hone their leader-
It is the mission of the Mayor’s Youth
dations to city officials. ship and professional capabilities. The
Academy to provide development
internship provides participants with an
opportunities to youth throughout the city Real World Success opportunity to think critically about their
of Richmond, which includes job readi-
The Mayor’s Youth Academy has spurred own actions, and those of others, so that
ness training, leadership development,
many young leaders through its program. they might become reflective practitio-
exposure to entrepreneurship, mentoring,
Three of those young leaders are Morris, ners. The Mayor’s Youth Academy
and post-secondary career exploration.
Yalik, and Edward. They are a fearless trio, additionally offers summer internships at
The Mayor’s Youth Academy strives to and interned with Renew Richmond a variety of placements, including the
accomplish the following goals: provide during the summer of 2018. Through Mayor’s office itself.
extensive training for youth, develop their six week internship, they worked to
employability skills, promote civic convert a 1.5-acre vacant lot, next to a Youth Voter Registration
engagement, expose youth to post- local high school, into a community farm To promote civic engagement in students,
secondary educational and/or vocational which will be a resource for healthy Mayor Levar M. Stoney partnered with
opportunities, provide professional food, education, and community Inspire USA and Richmond Public
mentors and instructors in a variety of empowerment. Schools to introduce the Mayor’s Award
career paths, provide safe and constructive for voter registration, which is awarded to
social outlets through supervised out of Mayor’s Fellows Program the RPS high school with the highest voter
school activities, and encourage continued The Mayor’s Fellows Program provides registration rate. In an effort to advance
school enrollment. college- and graduate school-aged this initiative, Mayor Stoney visited all RPS
participants with an extended opportunity high schools, along with representatives
The Mayor’s Youth Academy oversees the from Inspire and the City’s registrar, to
to link theory and practice. The experi-
Youth Council as part of their Future speak with students about the importance
ence has been designed to help partici-
Leaders program. Youth Council of voting.
pants integrate the knowledge and
members participate in leadership
experiences that they have attained in their
development activities, higher education
studies. Participants are expected to
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