Bridge Youth Advisory Council
NYSA benefits from implementing the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) because it enhances the agency’s effectiveness, legitimacy, and impact, aligning perfectly with principles of good governance and youth empowerment.
Why a Youth Advisory Council?
Enhanced Program Relevance and Effectiveness
Authentic Insights: Young people are the primary beneficiaries of youth-serving agencies. A YAC provides a direct, unfiltered channel for their perspectives, lived experiences, and needs. This ensures programs and services are truly relevant, responsive, and resonate with the target audience, avoiding assumptions or outdated approaches.
Co-design and Innovation: When youth are involved in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs, they bring fresh ideas, challenge norms, and identify gaps that adults might miss. This leads to more innovative, creative, and ultimately, more effective solutions. Programs designed with youth are far more impactful than those designed for them.
Improved Governance and Decision-Making
Informed Decisions: YACs provide valuable input on policies, strategies, and resource allocation. This youth voice helps agency leadership make more informed decisions that truly reflect the needs and priorities of the young people they serve.
Accountability and Transparency: By formally involving youth in governance, agencies demonstrate a commitment to accountability and transparency. It signals that the agency values youth input and is willing to be guided by their perspectives, fostering trust within the community.
Reduced “Adultism”: A YAC helps to combat “adultism” – the bias against young people solely because of their age. It promotes the understanding that youth are capable, intelligent, and valuable contributors, shifting the dynamic from youth as passive recipients to active partners.
Youth Empowerment and Leadership Development
Skill Building: Participation in a YAC offers invaluable opportunities for young people to develop critical skills such as leadership, communication, critical thinking, teamwork, negotiation, and advocacy. These are vital for their personal growth, future educational pursuits, and career readiness.
Increased Agency and Ownership: When youth have a platform to voice their opinions and see their input lead to tangible outcomes, they develop a sense of ownership and agency. This fosters self-confidence and a belief in their ability to make a positive difference in their communities.
Civic Engagement: YACs provide practical experience in civic engagement, helping young people understand how decisions are made, how to influence them, and their role in shaping their communities. This can inspire a lifelong commitment to active citizenship.
Stronger Community Connections and Outreach
Ambassadorial Role: YAC members can serve as ambassadors for the agency, helping to disseminate information, recruit other youth, and build stronger connections with their peers and the broader community.
Diversity and Inclusivity: A well-structured YAC strives to include diverse youth voices, ensuring that programs are inclusive and address the needs of all young people, including those from marginalized or underrepresented groups.
Enhanced Reputation: An agency that actively involves youth in its governance demonstrates a progressive and youth-centered approach, enhancing its reputation and credibility within the sector and among potential funders and partners.
Long-Term Sustainability and Succession Planning
Fostering Future Leaders: By investing in youth leadership through a YAC, agencies are essentially nurturing the next generation of community leaders, advocates, and potentially, future board members or staff for the agency itself.
Institutional Knowledge: Youth who grow up with an understanding of the agency’s mission and operations, through their involvement in a YAC, are more likely to remain connected and supportive of its work in the long run.
In conclusion, implementing a Youth Advisory Council is not merely a symbolic gesture; it’s a strategic imperative for a youth-serving agency committed to excellence in governance, impactful programming, and genuine youth development. It creates a dynamic partnership where both the agency and the young people it serves thrive.
What Council Members Do
YAC members are essential partners and agents of change. Their key responsibilities and expectations include:
Active Participation & Collaboration
- Attend and engage consistently in YAC meetings, activities, and events. Each Councillor’s presence is crucial for the council’s effectiveness.
- Work in authentic partnership with adult allies, establishing shared rights and responsibilities to achieve common goals.
- Collaborate with other youth and adults to make decisions collectively, ensuring all voices are heard.
- Commit to completing assigned tasks diligently and on time, and proactively communicate any absences or scheduling conflicts.
- Adhere to a code of conduct established by the group to maintain a respectful environment.
- Provide input and advice on various issues.
Be actively involved in collecting information about what is working and not working within the organization.
- Take on leadership roles in designing and implementing projects and initiatives.
- Provide input and participate in developing, reviewing, and updating relevant policies and processes.
- Plan and lead meetings for projects or initiatives, including setting agendas and facilitating discussions.
- Have input over budgets associated with your projects, including researching and submitting funding proposals.
- Engage in advocacy work, raising awareness and influencing policies that affect young people.
- Report back to organizational leadership and the community on the council’s activities and progress.
Leadership & Advocacy
Research & Evaluation
- Provide feedback about their youth engagement experiences to help NYSA improve.
- Participate in research and evaluation efforts, such as survey design and administration.
- Maintain clear, consistent, and multi-directional communication with fellow youth members, adult allies, and organizational leadership.
- Utilize various formats (e.g., email, text message, social media) to ensure accessibility and responsiveness.
Effective Communication
Want to Participate?
Applications are being accepted for seven seats on the Bridge Youth Advisory Council. If you are interested in applying, please complete the application form by clicking on the button below (you will be redirected to a Google Form):