Our Priorities

In 2004, youth and youth workers identified four citywide priorities. In order to ensure that we all support young people to grow and thrive, it is crucial that policy-makers prioritize:

• Youth jobs
• Living wages for youth workers
• Stable, long-term funding for youth programs
• Youth leadership

More details are available in a complete handout available in PDF or JPEG format.

Currently, we are working on a Summer Jobs Campaign to increase youth summer jobs funding after it was slashed from $8.6 million in 2000 to less than $5 million in 2005. More statistics on jobs funding cuts are available here.

Our Successes

• 2005: State Funding for Summer Jobs.
  
  In 2005, more than youth and youth workers held a forum for city and state officials to advocate for our priorities. Afterward, we went to the Statehouse to continue educating Statehouse officials about the importance of funding for summer jobs. In June 2005, the State Legislature restored $4 million of funding for youth summer jobs across the State!
• 2006: City Council Hearing on Youth Violence.
  
  On February 22, 2006, youth and youth workers packed City Hall to say what we thought needed to happen to stop youth violence: increase youth jobs, strengthen teen programs, and improve police/youth relationships. By gaining media coverage and reminding decision-makers of youth and youth workers' voice, we set the foundation for continued work to make increased summer jobs funding a reality!

Guiding Decisions That Impact Youth and Youth Workers

Important decisions are being made in areas that affect youth and youth workers:

• Professionalization of the youth work field.
• Funding for youth programs and opportunities.
• Policies intended to decrease youth violence.

It is important that we — youth, and the people who work with them daily — are at the table guiding these decisions.

We make our voice heard by:

• Sponsoring local and citywide forums for youth and youth workers to discuss issues.
• Participating in meetings and roundtables with decision-makers.
• Educating policy-makers about the issues that affect us and about solutions.
• Holding rallies and events to demonstrate the wide support for our vision and recommendations.