|  Changing
anything--particularly an organization or governing body--is
never easy, and forming youth-adult partnerships takes time,
patience, and effort. So why should you dedicate yourself
and your resources to restructuring your board or committee
in order to involve youth in governance? Because the rewards
are worth it!
Why
bother?
Where do we start?
What do we do then?
| Why
bother? |
| Researchers
have studied the impact that youth in governance can have
on adults, organizations, and the youth themselves. All
three groups benefit when youth are utilized as decision-makers.
Here is a look at the positive outcomes. |
| Adults
who work in partnership with young people |
- Witness
the competence of youth and perceive them
as critical to organizational improvement
- Enhance
their commitment to the organization
- Feel
more effective and competent in working with
youth
- Develop
a stronger sense of community connectedness
- Expand
thinking both professionally and personally
- Obtain
an increased understanding of young people
|
| Organizations
that involve youth as decision-makers |
- Develop
an expectation of youth involvement
- Utilize
young people to clarify the organization's
mission
- Become
more connected and responsive to youth in
the community
- Place
greater value on inclusivity and representation
- Are
more appealing to potential funders
- Reach
out to the community
- Increase
understanding of organization programs
- Are
infused with new energy and ideas
- Develop
resources for the future
|
| Youth
serving in governing roles experience |
- Increase
self-esteem, popularity, sense of personal
control, and enhanced identity development
- Greater
development of life skills, including leadership,
public speaking, dependability, and job responsibility
- Decreased
loneliness, shyness, and hopelessness
- Less
involvement in risky behaviors like drug use
and juvenile delinquency
- Better
academic achievement
- Increased
safety
- Exposure
to diverse people, ideas, and situations
- Introduction
to more resources, support, and role models
|
|
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| Where
do we start? |
| Before
a board or committee can begin utilizing youth in governance,
there are several factors that must be considered. Here
are some steps for boards and committees that are seeing
to involve youth as decision-makers. |
| Assess
your readiness. |
| |
The
board should be willing to have flexible meeting
times; have the attitude of doing something with
and not for youth; prepare to train youth members;
and adjust how the board supports its members. |
| Prepare
your board for youth members. |
| |
To
prepare for the change on your board, create a vision
for what you can accomplish with youth members,
discuss the positive qualities of youth (versus
stereotypes), and stay positive and resolute in
your goal. |
| Create
a position. |
| |
The
roles youth can fill on boards may be determined
by how the members are chosen. Where possible, adjust
by-laws to accommodate newly created positions. |
| Choose
youth representatives/members. |
| |
Where
legally allowable, youth members should be chosen
in the same way as other board members, either by
election or other method to best represent the board
and its constituents. |
| Consider
legal issues. |
| |
If
your board deals with confidential or sensitive
issues, consult a lawyer to determine the appropriate
level of youth involvement in these matters. |
| Recruit
youth. |
| |
Conduct
a broad-based search and interviews to find youth
with the time, talent, and inclination to join your
board. |
| Select
qualified applicants. |
| |
Allow
your selection process to bring out the best in
your applicants, rather than "weed them out."
Conduct interviews, ask for references, and look
for diversity, a desire to advocate, and a confident
voice. |
| Determine
responsibilities. |
| |
Find
the right person for the board instead of for a
specific task. After selecting the youth, the entire
board should define the members' responsibilities.
Be flexible and allow the job the change with the
young person's growing abilities. |
|
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| What
do we do then? |
| Once
your board or committee has installed youth members, you
shouldn't assume that they will automatically have the
skills necessary to fully participate. All new board members--both
youth and adult--need training. Here are a few training
tips: |
- Provide
new members with the history of the board, previous
issues, past actions taken, and other useful information.
- Give
new member a copy of the minutes from previous meetings.
This will acquaint them with the flow of your meetings
and the intricacies of meeting procedures.
- Provide
new members with a copy of the agenda and any needed
materials before your meeting so they can review the
information and be prepared.
- Be
patient! New members have a steep learning curve and
will need time to adjust.
- Make
sure board members know one another on a personal
level. This makes all members feel more comfortable
with and connected to your board.
- Advise
your board in advance of who the new members are and
when they will begin attending meetings.
- Have
an open dialogue about appropriate meeting dress.
Will the new members need to dress up, or will the
board move in a more casual direction?
- Establish
board mentors for all new members. Also, provide on-going
support for new members, maintain communication, and
set up meetings with the executive director or committee
chairs to ensure that all members are part of the
informal discussions that occur between meetings.
- Orient
new members to board lingo.
- Hold
meetings at times that are convenient to new members.
- Connect
with the youth members' parents and provide them with
all the necessary information. Make sure that everyone
feels supported and validated.
- Ensure
that ALL members are trained in working in intergenerational
relationships and diversity. Commit at least one board
meeting to this training and 5-10 minutes at the other
meetings.
Most
of all, remember that all boards, particularly ones
involving youth in governance, work best in an atmosphere
of respect, communication, investment, and meaninfgul
involvement. |
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Sources:
Moving Young People from Participants to Decision-makers;
The Power of an Untapped Resource; Youth-Adult Partnerships:
A Training Manual |
