Youth Leadership Initiative
One of NYEC’s goals as an organization is to ensure that youth/young adults can lead healthy and prosperous lives. One key way to achieve this goal is to actively engage youth/young adults in the decision-making processes of NYEC and their affiliated member organization – and by extension in their communities – where decisions are made about policies, programs, and resources that directly impact their lived experiences and prospects.
NYEC is launching an ambitious Youth Leadership Initiative to involve young adults in all aspects of the organization’s decision-making. Young adults, current and former participants in NYEC member programs, will change how NYEC makes decisions, complement the organization’s advocacy and field-building efforts, and influence how NYEC member organizations engage young adults in decision-making roles.
We are guided by the following principles that are outlined in our 40th Anniversary Publication, We Know What Needs to Be Done:
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Equity and inclusion
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Collaboration and support
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Co-design
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Assets and strengths
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Power sharing
Process
Youth have always been central to NYEC's programming most notably through national and regional convenings. Some our past efforts have included:
Youth-led focus group during All Youth-Connecting Forum on youth leadership within organizations
Youth panel during national and regional Forums
Youth co-designed efforts for the NYEC 40th Anniversary Celebration
Youth co-designed federal advocacy efforts via the Reconnecting Youth Campaign
| 2020/2021 Plans for Action |
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| Hiring Youth Leadership Specialist |
| Hosting Series of Co-design Sessions |
| Implementing Organizational Strategies & Changes |
| Recruitment and Support for Youth Leaders |
Co-Designed Sessions with Youth
The goal of the co-design sessions is to work with NYEC member organizations to identify supports needed for youth leadership in NYEC, and lay out a process for on-boarding young adult board members. These informal sessions may be in-person or virtual. Below are upcoming design-sessions. To learn more or sign-up contact rashaun.bennett@nyec.org.