Tapping into Youth Voice: NYLC Concludes Project with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
The National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) has concluded an exciting project with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), training six of its agencies across the country on how to harness the immense potential of youth voice in their programs.
“Youth voice is increasingly recognized as a vital element in shaping more inclusive and responsive communities,” said Julie Rogers Bascom, Director of Learning and Leadership at NYLC. “As more organizations and educators prioritize the involvement of young people in decision-making processes, youth voice has become a popular and essential focus.”
Through a project funded by Altria Success 360, BBBSA partnered with NYLC to access essential coaching and resources to help each of its six agencies incorporate and elevate youth perspectives into their diverse programming. The NYLC team adapted to meet each agency’s needs, tapping into their distinct strengths and capabilities. Some of the agencies needed support with building upon already existing youth-led efforts, like youth advisory councils, while others sought to increase their capacity for youth leadership opportunities overall.
As each of the agency’s programs varied, so too did their outcomes, demonstrating the importance of adapting youth engagement strategies to fit the specific context and needs of each agency.
“This work is a reminder that youth voice looks different in every community,” said Julie. “When we start with a goal of elevating youth voice, we seek to build reciprocal and meaningful youth-adult partnerships, so we must be open to that looking different, based on who is involved in the process.”
This project not only encouraged youth to express their ideas and feedback but also laid the groundwork for leadership development outcomes for youth. When youth are actively engaged and their voices are valued, they develop critical leadership skills, become more invested in their communities, and are better prepared to take on leadership roles in the future.
“At BBBSA, we strive to ensure youth voice is reflected in all aspects of programming,” said Bridgete Alfonso, Grant Implementation Manager at BBBSA. “The resources lifted and developed by NYLC will further support our organization’s future of engaging and activating more leadership opportunities for the youth we serve.”
Interested in tapping into youth voice in your organization, school, or classroom? Schedule a free consultation with our experts today!
