Youth outreach conversation

What do youth need to succeed?

• How do we maintain the ladder – how do we get into the high numbers?
• How to avoid first three rungs?
• Making decisions before doing something, with young people at the table
• Trust is important.
• Adults dismissive of youth abilities and what they can actually handle
• Trust in accepting youth ideas
• Adults be on board with what the youth are trying to do
• Being opened minded – adults have one way to do things, youth have another, reach a compromise
• Open to new ideas, even if it’s something you’ve done for a long time
• More adult allies not looking down upon us but actually helping us
• Be on the same level with your students
• Embracing errors and mistakes, don’t be afraid to be able to adapt even if you have a “plan”, maintain a positive atmosphere.
• Dealing with adversity when it arises – being mindful for your mindset
• Taking risks could be a good thing and adults should be open to it
• Not generalizing youth people – not all young people are the same – one young person’s idea is not every young person’s idea
• Youth have to get just as much out of it as the adults do. Can’t just teach youth so that adults get the prestige
• Level the playing field between boss and employee
• Youth aren’t adults yet – don’t handle stress well – adults shouldn’t put too much pressure because they’re not fully mature yet
• Youth need to be able to think positively about themselves. Realizing that you’re important too.
• Older doesn’t mean wiser. Younger doesn’t mean dumber.
• Sharing ideas, space for that to happen.
• Finding out what young people want out of their communities
• Constantly building leaders.
• Recruiting a recruiter
• Using other youth to connect with other youth – don’t let adults figure what is cool, have youth figure it out
• Using social media to get out to youth - holding events that aren’t just work but a chance to have young people check it out. Opportunity to
• If you want to keep youth engaged, don’t assume you know how to keep youth engaged
• Don’t just study or watch youth – talk to youth
• Don’t just use one youth for the source of your input – use a diverse group
• People like different things
• Adults don’t have clicks like kids do
• It’s hard to give real feedback unless anonymous
• If don’t feel uncomfortable by the feedback, it’s not 100% honest and open
• But don’t feel too much pressure to make EVERYONE completely happy with every decision
• Don’t look really desperate for youth
• Don’t be cheap on the food
• Not too close to when school gets out – it’s stressful
• No Friday meetings! Adults think “if I can handle this, they can”
• At the same time – adults are trying to teach us to be responsible
• Get a gauge on their other responsibilities and priorities
• Youth are dealing with so much – becoming an adult, school, etc. Be aware
• Youth are figuring out the world – help them out
• Don’t need to be babysat – need hand holding on some big adult things (taxes, money, etc)
• Agreements – not rules – collaborate on making the agreements
• Build teams – don’t pit youth against one another
• Believe in your youth once they show you what they are capable of.
• Connect and check in with youth, show that you really believe in them
• Leaders teaching others to be leaders
• Start a group text with all your youth (!)
• Some people show their care and affection in different ways
• Don’t people on the spot in front of all their peers
• Be up front about boundaries