beyond elections: youth involvement in municipal governance presentation to the union of bc...
TRANSCRIPT
BEYOND ELECTIONS: Youth Involvement in Municipal Governance
Presentation to the Union of BC Municipalities Conference
Vancouver, British Columbia
September 25th, 2003
Presentation Overview
The Family Wellness Project - Geoff Nelson
Better Beginnings, Better Futures - Mark Pancer
Youth-Driven Community Involvement - Doug Ragan and Nadim Kara
Commentary - Laura Nelson
Key Areas and Questions in Family Wellness Project
Objective: Promote family wellness and prevent child maltreatment
Populations of Study
Canadian Society in General
Aboriginal Communities in
Particular
Our Framework
Vision and values
Ecological view
Prevention continuum
Partnership
Are Communities Friendly to Children
and Youth? According to a recent survey of over 1 million young people by the Search Institute in Minneapolis
only 45% of youth could name an adult other than family members who have influenced them positively
less than 30% considered schools as a caring environment
only 25% said they live in a community that values youth
Are Communities Friendly to Children
and Youth? According to a study released last week, the number of children and youth who were victims of child maltreatment and seen in child protection services in Ontario nearly doubled over a 5 year period (from 12,300 in 1993 to 24, 400 in 1998)
According to a survey of nearly 10,000 adults in Ontario in 1990, 33% of men and 27% of women reported being physically or sexually abused when they were children
Envision a Child and Youth Friendly
Community
What Does It Look Like?
Ecological Structure of Wellness
Values, ResourcesPrograms, Policies
Values, ResourcesPrograms, Policies
Values, ResourcesPrograms, Policies
Values, ResourcesPrograms, Policies
Promotion—Prevention—Protection Continuum
Youth Driven Community Involvement
Doug Ragan
Environmental Youth Alliance
Nadim Kara
Self Help Resource Association
Background
The Environmental Youth Alliance in partnership with the Self Help Resource Association has facilitated a coalition of youth run agencies called Youth Driven for the past 6 years
Challenges Facing Youth
13% of students in Vancouver/ Richmond area have considered suicide
40% have experienced discrimination
almost 40% have experienced sexual harassment
Challenges Facing Youth
half of all young men have been involved in a fight
isolation and lack of social support
pressure to succeed
alienation from work, school, and family
Impacts of These Challenges on Youth
negative health and mental health
poor decision-making and risk-taking behaviours
substance use, misuse and abuse
violence and risk of sexual exploitation
Some common responses
YOUTH ARE…
•Problems needing to be managed
•Passive and grateful recipients of service
•Clients to be fixed
Asset Based Approaches
Youth can bring: • passion• multiple skill sets• life experience• talent• knowledge• sincerity
The Million $ Question
How do you build on the
assets youth have in order to
enable them to address
personal challenges and
societal injustices?
Traditional Approaches
Working through significant adults:
•youth workers
•teachers
•community health nurses
Traditional Approaches
Working through significant adults, who:
• catalyze discussions
• access resources
• support or direct youth action
Alternative Approaches
What does it take for youth to
self organize for social change?
Youth Driven Survey
1997
As an ‘old timer’ youth agency, EYA
conducts a research project on youth
run groups and organizations in the
City of Vancouver
Youth Driven Survey
Goals of the Survey:
• document existing youth run entities
• begin to define what “youth driven” means
• explore how youth agencies function
• articulate common barriers to sustaining the work
Youth Driven Survey
Process• surveyed 25 youth groups
• received 17 responses
Criteria• self-identified as youth-driven vs. youth
serving
• some level of autonomy / structure
• active for longer than one project
Youth Driven Survey
TYPE OF WORK DONE BY GROUPS
THAT PARTICIPATED:
• sexual health education
• peer support
• first nations advocacy and activism
• environmental programming
• and much, much more...
Youth Driven Survey
A FOCUS ON THE CAPACITY FOR
SUSTAINABILITY - WE ASKED:
“What barriers prevent youth run organizations from doing their work, regardless of the type of
work that they do?”
Youth Driven Survey
MOST COMMON BARRIERS:
• FUNDING
• YOUTH REPRESENTATION IN DECISION MAKING AND ACCOUNTABILITY
• TRAINING
• POLICY DEVELOPMENT
• MEDIA RELATIONS
Kicking it up a notch...
YOUTH DRIVEN YOUTH ACTION COALITION (YDYA)
A coalition of youth run groups, organizations and agencies working together to strengthen the capacity of youth, youth organizations, and the youth community to continue working towards social justice.
Goals of Youth Driven
increase the capacity of the partner agencies in order to strengthen their ability to sustain the work
increase awareness of the community about the work youth run agencies do
identify the ‘determinants of self-organizing’ and enable youth to come together spontaneously for social change
Kicking it up a notch...
YOUTH IN THE CITY
1999
A high profile campaign to raise awareness (in the community at large) around the excellent work
being done by youth driven groups, in conjunction with Vancouver’ civic
elections.
Youth Driven Organizations
Have an impact on the community,
but lack:
capacity for sustainability recognition and profile support from the community at
large
A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Youth Driven Organizations are usually more...
open welcoming accepting of diverse life experiences accessible to youth with different abilities
Characteristics of Youth Friendly Environments
youth are respected youth are valued the environment is fun youth feel appreciated youth feel safe youth feel comfortable there is an honest process
Youth Involvement
feels meaningful, useful, important, relevant
youth are active, interested, inspired, and want to be there
“Their smile extends from their mouth to their eyes.”
Youth in Charge
youth in control with support
youth taking ownership with accountability
youth making decisions with skill building
youth taking action in collaboration
For more information...
CONTACT:
Doug Ragan, Environmental Youth Alliance
Nadim Kara, KINEX Youth Team (SHRA)[email protected]
Thank you for your attention!