Youth Pride

Youth Power

Youth Voice

Enthusiastic ways to share power

and build partnerships

What is Youth ‘N Action?Youth ‘N Action is a youth group that involves youth voice in public policy. It is a partnership between youth and professionals where youth are compensated for their efforts and contributions in the system of care. Professionals respect the opinions of youth at the meetings and a youth vote is as powerful as an adult vote.

VISION

Our vision is a community and system of care where youth culture and youth voice is recognized and respected in policy design through implementation.

Mission Our mission is to bring youth issues to the attention of

policy makers, professionals, youth friendly adults and other youth involved in the system of care. This promotes understanding and action by community leaders through utilization of youth expertise

Why should you listen to, Involve and Respect us?

Because We Believe!

We believe you can benefit from our expertise in the systems that serve us

We believe you can become culturally competent (in youth culture that is!)

We believe that you want the best for us!

Partnership is a Must!We must partner with each other not patronize each other

We must not use acronyms, abbreviations, or slang that others can not understand

We must build bridges not burn them

We must accept our limitations and build on our strengths

What does “Partner” mean to you?

What are pros and cons of partnership?

Who do you think will benefit from a youth partnership?

How do you see youth involved in the transformation process?

(white paper)

Close encounters of the unhelpful kind…

In meetings sometimes we get bored, feel uncomfortable don’t know what to do with our hands or wonder how did we get here anyway?

It isn’t helpful when you invite us to a meeting and there isn’t room for us to participate.

In policy meetings it doesn’t work for me when:

Comments are made about how I dress or talk

There is no food at the meeting

The food in not youth friendly—if I never see another bagel it will be too soon!

Meetings are not at youth friendly times

I am not compensated for my efforts

Sometimes trying new things is not always pleasant but it can be good

Curt trying Pho for the first time

The three “c”s of Compensation

Community Service Hours

School Credit

CASH BABY!

Youth Professional Partnership

Action Steps:

Partner with youthCompensate them for their timeYouth friendly meeting timesShare ResourcesProvide TrainingAnything else?

It looks like we have a long way to go…

Sometimes it seems like the

big guy always wins...

But all professionals do not look alike

And we know all youth and families do not look alike

What is normal anyway??

Partnership can get messy….

In the end.. You make the difference

In the end we have to remember why we are doing the work and we have to decide what compromises we are willing to make, to make this partnership work.

This is why we do what we do... This is the future!

To really transform systems, you must have active, respected voices of youth that have been involved in

the systems you are trying to transform.

Always Present & Always Heard!

OK, Now lets get real.What does it take to resource, design, maintain,sustain and encourage youth voice in transforming the systems that serve them?