University of Wisconsin - Extension

WAUPACA - In most Wisconsin communities, no one expects to see young people participating in city council meetings, serving on city committees or serving on the board of the United Way. Why not?

That question got people in Waupaca thinking about integrating young people into community life. Now, with a the assistance of the Innovation Center of the National 4-H Council, the Ford Foundation and the Healthy Community/Healthy Youth Coalition, adults and youth in this 6,000-person central Wisconsin city are finding ways to give youth meaningful roles in the community. Their project, called Charting Community Connections, brings youth and adults together to create community change.

In this project youth and adults meet on an equal footing, and each subcommittee has an adult and a young person serving as co-chairs. There are no token members.

"Our goal was to become a place where young people could voice their views and opinions," explained Connie Abert, Waupaca County 4-H youth development agent. "To do that, we needed to tap into the assets for youth that exist already in the community and encourage youth to be involved in creating positive change here."

Carolyn Edlebeck is a seventh grade student who has been involved in the project since the beginning. Poised and confident, she has made public presentations about the project at conferences in Orlando, Fl., and Denver, Colo., as well as Madison.

"When things affect youth, youth should have some input," she said. "We're trying to have equal voices for youth and adults with bothyouth and adults in all leadership positions. We are setting an example of youth and adults working together."

A lot has changed since this effort started last year. The mayor appointed youth to a city committee assessing existing community recreational facilities such as the parks and youth recreation center.

People organized a community resource fair and timed it so middle and high school students could come in the afternoon to check out community service opportunities. Parents came after work to enroll children in youth organizations.

Young people are working with their computer teacher to develop a community resources website. They've started a family soccer program. No parents are on the sidelines; everyone plays.

The Kiwanis Club is partnering with the middle school jazz band for a community dance and fundraiser for youth scholarships. The school jazz band will open for the professional big band hired to provide the dance music.

People are developing a school mentoring program and investigating needs for an after-school program.

Involving youth means changing the way a group does business, Abert added. Adults may be willing to sit around a table for a two-or three-hour meeting. Most young people are not. To keep youth engaged, the group used a variety of activities, encouraging people to get out of their chairs and move around.

For example, in one exercise, a participant lies down on a long sheet of butcher paper and others trace his or her outline. Then all the participants, armed with markers, note community resources or assets for youth. If it's something the adult community does for youth - organizing a basketball camp or offering a story hour at the library,

the note goes outside the figure. If it's something the adult community does with youth, organizing events at the youth center, or service opportunities where youth are involved in planning and carrying out the program, the note goes inside the figure.

"This was an interesting exercise that helped everyone understand where youth are already playing an active role and where they could, if adults let them have more opportunities for leadership," Abert said.

"The adults enjoyed it as much as the young people did," she added.

The coalition has completed a survey to learn what youth in the community want and need. They discovered the biggest need is for more places where young people can get together informally.

Currently a highway truck stop is the only place that stays open all night. It has become the place where students gather at night to have a cappuccino and study together. The high school math teacher stops by twice a week to tutor anyone who needs a little extra help.

The other places where kids gather are church parking lots - the only places in town that allow skateboarding. The community coalition now is backing the creation of a city skateboard park.

"We've come a long way," Abert said. "There are still a lot of things we would like to do. This was a community that did not consider encouraging youth to be involved, but now we do."