Youth as Partners in Civic Leadership 2007 Highlights
“YPCL is a group of youth and adults from across Wisconsin representing youth organizations, communities, and schools, who are dedicated to advancing Youth Voice.”
In 2007, YPCL worked to advance the mission and objectives by building stronger partnerships with other statewide youth organizations, conducting a successful conference, and helping build the Wisconsin Youth Voice movement.
Conference 2007
Explosions of Ideas and Actions Conference October 19-21, 2007, Green Lake Conference Center
The conference had 126 participants including 86 youth and 38 adults from across WI representing 15 teams at conference. Twenty-eight people representing many different organizations got involved in conference planning teleconferences. Throughout the year, YPCL members met to plan and coordinate the conference on 12 teleconferences and two face-to-face meetings. The conference theme Explosions of Ideas and Actions as well as the conference goals listed below were agreed upon in order to encourage individual skill building and team action in local communities.
Conference Goals Were Met:
1. Build skills through arts & media projects, workshops, networking and roundtables
- 77% of conference participants reported that the conference experience improved their ability to actively contribute to their community.
- 81% built skills and gained ideas for using arts, media and technology.
- In December, Florence County’s TORPEDO team completed part of their plan--they involved community members of all ages and artists Tim and Connie Friesen to create a visual representation of their community.
2. See models of community actions led by youth and adults
- 61% said they had made contacts they will continue to network with.
- 72% exchanged ideas and formed friendships with people from diverse backgrounds.
3. Build the movement for youth voice in Wisconsin
- 72% said they were more likely to work to involve youth in local government and issues and 62% in state government and issues.
- 82% are better prepared to work as a partner with youth and adults in their communities.
- The results of the interactive survey and forum were the focus of a state-wide planning meeting of Wisconsin Youth Voice—and a grant proposal was submitted to advance the plan.
4. HAVE FUN!
- “Thank you. I had a great time here. Please invite me back.”
- “This was an amazing experience. We are going home with enthusiasm and tools to take action.”
Diverse attendance: The diversity of Wisconsin was present at the conference; youth/adult teams attended from communities from Milwaukee to Florence and Jackson County to Grant County. Approximately 67% of the participants were white, 19% black and 6% Hispanic. 40% were from cities and suburbs and 60% from rural communities and towns.
Media and art skills put into action – PSAs are getting air time on local radio stations
YPCL was also able to distribute mini-grants to conference teams to take what they learned at the conference and use it in their own communities. The mini-grant proposals directly show how participating teams are using the skills gained at the conference to make change in their own communities.
Argyle School District: Art Team |
Video documenting local veterans stories to be dedicated on Memorial day 2008 and given to local public libraries
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B.E.A.M. (Business and Economics Academy of Milwaukee) |
Creating a public mural to inspire children to believe they can achieve their goals
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Student Library Advisory Group—Waupaca Area Public Library |
Books Behind Bars program to start a formal library to help meet the informational and literary needs of the inmates |
Waushara Prevention Council–-Students Taking on Prevention (S.T.O.P.) |
Utilize guerilla marketing techniques in raise awareness of underage drinking and tobacco use video, murals, human signs, palm cards, etc. |
Florence County TORPEDOs |
Video promotion of town/school, explore possibilities of starting a teen court, community mural depicting rich rural heritage |
Partnerships
Financial Contributions of $17,650--The successes of the YPCL conference were truly the product of strong partnerships across the state. Partners who contributed money to the conference include:
Wisconsin Rural Challenge |
1333 |
Alliance for Wisconsin Youth |
2000 |
Department of Public Instruction |
5135 |
Brighter Futures |
3159 |
Kohler Foundation |
2500 |
Wisconsin 4H Youth Development (EYSC) |
1200 |
Wisconsin 4H Foundation |
900 |
Wisconsin 4H Foundation |
1200 |
New Organizations Engaged:
- 4-H Operation Military Kids
- Urban Underground helped with conference planning and presented several sessions at the YPCL Conference
- Wisconsin Brighter Futures
- Wisconsin Teen Court Association
Wisconsin Youth Voice: YPCL also coordinated with Wisconsin Youth Voice, a new group of adults and youth representing 40 different groups, including several departments from the executive branch, interested legislators, higher education, and non-profit and advocacy organizations, to consider the coordination of youth policy in Wisconsin. Active YPCL youth and adult members helped to develop plans, submit a funding proposal, and conducted a forum at the YPCL conference to gain youth and adult input into the creation of state support for youth voice.
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