 Have
you ever felt that young people in your community are to be
"seen and not heard"? Do adults (teachers, school
boards, elected officials, the Chamber of Commerce, and others)
make decisions that affect young people without asking the youth
what they think? Have you ever heard, "You're just a kid
-- you don't know what you're talking about"?
Would
you like to work with adults to
make a real difference in your community?
Barriers
are never easy to deal with, and sometimes the toughest walls
to climb are the ones put up by adults. They have years of
experience and knowledge, and often they think it's easier
to tackle a problem, project, or new program alone, rather
than involve young people. But when they do that, they are
missing out on the great ideas, enthusiams, energy, and resources
that youth have to offer!
Being
involved as a young person in governance isn't easy at first.
It takes patience, time, and training for both the youth and
adults. But the results are worth the effort!
If
you want to get involved on a decision-making board or committee
in your community, it's not a good idea to just show up at
a meeting and demand to join the group. There are some steps
you need to take first.
Click
on the clovers below to discover five simple steps and a checklist
to help you on your journey to youth in governance.
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