How To Organize a Youth Forum - Cornell eCommons.pdfVIP

How To Organize a Youth Forum by Jutta Dotterweich, ACT for Youth This document describes how to organize a youth forum of the type that the Upstate Center of Excellence has conducted. We’ve also included many of the handouts and letters that we created in the process of organizing our youth forum. Feel free to use the wording of our documents to create your own documents. More information is available on the ACT for Youth website at /actforyouth. Step 1: Planning the forum Define the purpose of the forum. Identify host agency and facilitator. Set a realistic time line (it will take several months to put this together). Determine date, time, and location of forum. Identify the youth who should be at the forum ( consider age, gender, race, SES, geographical area, school districts, etc) Identify youth to help with the planning (use existing youth programs, schools to reach young people). Set date for planning meeting. Step 2: Planning meeting (2-3 hours) Set up for planning meeting: consider food, transportation for youth, time--after school hours or weekends Prepare planning meeting handouts (see attachment 1) Welcome, introduction, agenda (see attachment 2) Describe function of this planning meeting; describe/discuss purpose and structure of forum; Facilitator will work with youth: Brainstorm activity: Ideal Community and Barriers; Small group activity to categorize and organize ideas gathered in brainstorm activity; Identify and describe key issues Consider who should serve as note takers and adult listeners/panelists Discuss leadership roles and assign roles Discuss next steps, set next planning meeting with youth Step 3: Outreach Identify and invite youth to the forum (see attachment 3) Invite and confirm listeners/panelists (see attachment 4)