It’s been 5 years since I launched my own business supporting authentic youth engagement as a new normal for youth-serving agencies and organizations. And what a challenging five years it’s been for us all!
Amidst the challenges, I am proud to have partnered with a dozen clients. My diverse clients, from county agencies to national nonprofits, have achieved meaningful and authentic progress toward true partnership with youth in their work.
I’ve worked with clients to evaluate the reality of their current youth engagement efforts, facilitate groups of youth and adults to plan and implement deeper youth engagement, envision and create new youth engagement-focused positions staffed by people with relevant lived expertise, coach key youth engagement staff, and so many other valuable and challenging projects.
Here are some ways I’ve helped previous clients that might be helpful for your organization.
Evaluation and Planning
Realistic evaluation of youth engagement in your organization and/or programs.
In-depth audit of your organization’s current youth engagement.
Research, reports, and presentations on best practices or cutting edge pilots for youth engagement in your field.
Facilitation of community conversations or short-term advisory groups engaging youth and adults, plus staff and leadership, in creating recommendations for your organization’s youth engagement.
Strategic planning based on your realistic readiness for advancing youth engagement.
Ongoing, Flexible Implementation Support
Routine meetings with key staff, leaders, and/or oversight groups to maintain momentum toward youth engagement goals.
Periodic evaluation check-ins with written reports, crafted for internal and/or public use.
Documentation of progress and success for use in grant proposals, conference workshops, or other public communications.
Training and Professional Development
Flexible, live training for staff and leadership on robust and authentic youth engagement including:
authentically partnering with youth in individual and group interactions,
identifying the experiences of power and oppression by youth and families interacting with your organization,
how to disagree or say “no” to youth in partnership.
Support drafting or revising orientation and training materials.
One-to-one coaching of staff or leaders with direct responsibility for youth engagement.
Facilitating groups of young leaders to co-draft recommendations for increased youth engagement within your field.