BEYOND ELECTIONS: Youth Involvement in Municipal Governance

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BEYOND ELECTIONS Youth Involvement in
Municipal Governance
Presentation to the Union of BC Municipalities
Conference Vancouver, British Columbia September
25th, 2003
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Presentation Overview

• Who We Are
• Workshop Premise and Background
• Municipal Youth Engagement Framework
• Municipal Youth Asset Scan

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Who We Are
YOUTH ACTION EFFECTING CHANGE Doug Ragan,
Senior Manager, Environmental Youth
Alliance Centre of Excellence for Youth
Engagement CIVIC YOUTH STRATEGY Nadim Kara,
Social Planner, City of Vancouver
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Workshop Premise
YOUTH ARE ASSETS TO THE COMMUNITY
YOUTH EXPERIENCE DEMOCRACY THROUGH LOCAL ACTION
MUNICIPALITIES CAN SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGE YOUTH
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Youth as Assets to Communities

• Levels of Action Youth Can Take
• Individual acts
• Localized community service
• Youth initiated projects
• Sustained youth organizing

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Municipal Youth Engagement Framework
e.g. Teachers Supportive
Community
Friends peer group service
Initiating Sustaining
Engagement/ Outcomes Factors
Factors Involvement
Community level
Enhanced self-esteem from contributing to healthy
communities
Improved and more effective community services
Municipal policy commitment to youth involvement
Financial and staff resources to implement policy
Youth consultations and joint decision making
Municipal Level
Adapted from Centre of Excellence for Youth
Engagement model
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MEANINGFUL INVOLVEMENT Role of Municipality

• THE BASICS
• Initiating Factors
• Political commitment
• Diversity
• Tapping into passion
• A true sharing of decision making power

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MEANINGFUL INVOLVEMENT Role of Municipality

• THE BASICS
• Sustaining Factors
• Resources
• Youth friendly meetings
• Reflection and Evaluation

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Civic Youth Strategy

• Policy Statement, 1995
• New implementation model, 2002
• Community Grants

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Youth as a Resource

• Outcomes of Involvement
• Healthier youth
• Healthier communities
• Vibrant youth community available as a resource
  to municipal government

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Weaving the threads together
Healthy Youth, Healthy Communities
Improved Municipal Policies, Programs and Services
Local Action
Youth Involved in Youth Organizations
Youth Involved in Municipal Government
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For more information...

• CONTACT
• Doug Ragan, Environmental Youth Alliance
• Doug_at_eya.ca
• Nadim Kara, City of Vancouver Social Planning
• Nadim_kara_at_city.vancouver.bc.ca

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Thank you for your attention!
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