Amplify Youth Voice Summer 2020

Equity through youth voice, leadership and participatory action research

Our Challenge

So often young people are not included in decision making that impacts their lives. Rarely are they in leadership or co-leadership positions to solve the challenges facing our communities. Without their engagement solutions may be ineffective or at worst, harmful. 

Our Solution

In January 2020 the Alliance Board established key priorities to advance youth engagement this year; Young Adult Summit and the 2020 Youth to Youth Survey. To support these efforts and to respond to the needs of youth identified in our COVID-19 Youth Survey we have also created a youth reassurance communication campaign. 

At the Alliance, we create the space for youth and adults to partner together to listen, learn and take action. Now more than ever, we need to engage youth in positive and proactive ways to process the rage, fear and disconnection that can emerge during painful events, and distressing times. It is through this engagement that we will increase safety in our community. 

As we move into summer there are three key efforts underway  will help us not only support young peoples well-being, but also to create the partnerships needed to advance positive youth development in our community. 
  1. Young Adult Summit – June 2020. This youth-led online week-long conference will hold space for youth to elevate the most pressing issues related to their emerging into adulthood. We invite all youth in our community to connect, reflect and engage. 
  2. Amplify Youth Voice Communications Campaign – Summer 2020. This campaign is a youth and adult partnership to identify key messages of solidarity and hope for young people, create original youth led content, and amplify this content throughout our broader community.  
  3. Youth to Youth Survey – Summer 2020. This summer we have hired five youth researchers to engage other young people, and some adults, to build a participatory action research projects that explores the effects of COVID-19, the killing of George Floyd, and to reveal what can be done now to support young people as they navigate their lives. 
What are our goals?
  • Increase youth safety and well-being.
  • Center, amplify and lift up youth (ages 14-25) narrative, voice and vision as we navigate a two major public health emergencies, including COVID-19 pandemic and institutional racism. 
  • Support the Youth Led efforts of the Brooklyns Youth Council to engage young people in a healing, supportive and future focused way.
  • Continue and expand our collaboration between youth, adults, and partner organizations – take action based on the COVID-19 Youth and Parent Survey Results, as well as the Youth to Youth Survey this summer. 
What action will we take?
  • Host the Young Adult Summit 
  • Launch the Amplify Youth Voice communications campaign
  • Facilitate a youth participatory action research project - the 2020 Youth to Youth Survey
Who will we be engaging?
  • Young people who live or go to school in Brooklyn Center or Brooklyn Park, ages 14-21
  • Adults who work with young people to shift towards equity and inclusion
  • Youth and Adult teams who are building skills to take action 
How do I get connected?