How did the youth council spend its year? What are their recommendations for community leaders? See their presentation, read the report, and watch the video!

2. A program of
In partnership with

3. Goals
Learn about local government, civic issues
Meaningfully engage in policy & decision-making
Highlight civic issues important to youth
Create a communitywide network of informed,
engaged youth leaders
Serve as a resource for community leaders.

4. Why does it matter?
We’re stakeholders
– 25% of the population is under 18
– We are the community’s present & future
– We need to be at the table
A resource for you
– Make better policies and decisions on issues
impacting kids

5. Who we are
100+ teens participated in 2013-14
– 28 CMS and non-CMS schools
Diverse group, representative of community
– Race, ethnicity, religion
– Income and family background
– LGBTQ status
– Political and career interests
– Everything!

6. What we did this year
Met with city, county, and CMS officials &
attended government meetings
Created city, town, and school board
government and candidate guide
Represented Charlotte-Mecklenburg youth at
2 conferences and several community events
Explored community history and growth
Hosted a youth-led summit with officials

7. Youth council activities
Over 1,340 hours of service
Group activities offered
– 80 hours interacting
• City, county, CMS, and NC officials
– 150 hours exploring
• Community issues and different perspectives
– 95 hours learning
• Local government, business, history, careers

8. Issues
Education, youth programs
Jobs and workforce development
State-local issues, teacher pay, CLT airport,
Community growth, planning, and land
How Charlotte-Mecklenburg works
Prioritizing, funding, and budgeting for
services, needs, and wants
Public service and careers

9. New experiences
100% of youth
• Interacted with an official
• Learned about local government
• Engaged on a local issue
Public service
• Students also explored the interesting and diverse
career and public service opportunities, seeing beyond
their own comfort zones and involving themselves in
new experiences.

10. Working together
A little more than half of youth surveyed
• Believe that local officials understand the needs of
young people, or
• Involve youth when making decisions impacting kids
We look forward to working with you to make
Charlotte-Mecklenburg great!

11. Our Recommendations
Collaboration and bipartisanship
• We want leaders and governments to work together.
Make children and youth a priority
• Prioritize and fund services impacting kids; include
youth in planning and budgeting.
Access to youth programs and services
• Make it easier for us to find programs and support.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s future
• We want to be here to work, live, play, and lead.

12. Youth Summit

13. Conferences

14. Learning about CLT-Meck

15. Student voice

16. Learn more
Visit www.GenerationNation.org/youth to
– Watch our video
• Or see it at http://bit.ly/youthvideo13_14
– Read the youth council’s report
– Get more information about the youth council

17. Thank you for your support!