Children and Youth Voice, Youth Involvement, Youth Engagement, Youth Organizing and Youth Participation

in National Nonprofit Organizations

INTRODUCTION: Across the nation there is a movement in community-serving non-profit organizations to involve their constituents in decisions that affect them. This has led to young people being installed in significant positions of authority in many organizations.

POINT TO PONDER: "Rather than standing or speaking for children, we need to stand with children speaking for themselves. We don't need a political movement for children... [we need to] build environments and policies for our collective future." - Sandra Meucci, as quote by Wendy Lesko in Maximum Youth Involvement.
 

RESOURCES: The following resources are examples of non-profit organizations across the United States that include young people in decision-making on youth action councils, advisory boards, and as members of their boards of directors.

Youth Service America National Youth Advisory Council - The National Youth Advisory Council's (NYAC) purpose is to serve as advisors to Youth Service America in its programming, direction, and evaluation. Youth members for our Board of Directors are chosen directly from our NYAC.

National Youth Leadership Council Youth Advisory Council - The Youth Advisory Council is a team of young servant-leaders, ages 14-21, recognized for their dedication to promoting youth leadership, service-learning, youth-adult partnerships, and diversity. YAC advises NYLC on its programming and brings a valuable youth perspective to the organization’s work.

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Youth Board

National School Board Association Youth Advisory Board on School Health

California Adolescent Health Collaborative

Youth Service America's National Youth Advisory Council

Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan

League of Oregon Cities Youth Advisory Council