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Throughout Michigan, there are youth and teen groups working to make a difference in local communities and municipal governments. Often, these groups take the form of youth or teen councils, which serve as a forum for teen leaders who aim to make their community a better place. Youth councils are organizations through which teens can play an active role in local government, community building and volunteerism. Many youth councils are run through Park and Recreation Departments, and why not? Park departments are "community based departments, with connections to both schools

and local government," said Derenda Howard, recreation specialist at Oakland County Parks and Recreation and member of the MRPA Youth and Teen Initiatives Committee. In addition, MRPA and local park departments "have a large network, the necessary connections to the community, and much of what we do is already youth centered," added Howard. "We are set up quite well to facilitate the building of youth involvement in communities." Tracy Shanley is a Youth and Teen Initiatives committee member, recreation programmer at Huntington Woods Parks and Recreation, and the supervisor of the Huntington Woods Teen Council. Shanley feels that "recreation agencies are definitely the right organizations to engage youth, because everyone is somehow and in some way involved in recreation." Shanley also added that "recreation is a low risk way for teens to participate, without the threat of having to get a good grade on a project through school, or being forced by parents to be involved." The benefits of community youth councils extend not only to the teen participants, but to the surrounding community as well. The organizations provide a venue for team building, civic engagement and leadership development for participants, yet also contribute greatly to local municipalities. Many councils host fundraising events and activities for local teens, but also frequently volunteer their time to facilitate activities run through municipalities and community organizations. Connecting Youth Councils the MRPA Way The MRPA Youth and Teen Initiatives Committee serves as a network for members of local government to connect and share ideas through statewide youth and teen initiatives. Like Shanley, many committee members are involved with youth councils in their own community. Bryan Farmer is one such member. Farmer, who is the recreation supervisor with Farmington Hills Special Services, is also the advisor to the Farmington Hills/Farmington Mayor's Youth Council. Founded in 1999, the Farmington Hills/Farmington Council was the first Michigan youth council developed under an ordinance, which cemented its status as a permanent organization in the community. Farmington Hills Special Services, the park and recreation agency for the city, "began getting phone calls from other mayors, community leaders and recreation departments looking to start their own councils," said Farmer. To meet the needs of inquiring communities, the Youth and Teen Initiatives Committee set to work planning the first ever MRPA Michigan Youth Symposium which was held in Traverse City in 2002. The symposium, held in partnership with the Michigan Municipal League, was a one-day event that brought together city managers, mayors, park professionals and youth councils, to help other municipalities start youth and teen councils of their own. More than 120 people attended the first Youth Symposium. (Continued)   Page    2    3  City of Adrian Mayor Gary McDowell sat down for a video interview with MRPA at the 2009 Michigan Youth Symposium. Check out the five minute interview above to hear Mayor McDowell's take on the importance of youth engagement in communities and municipal governments. McDowell, who currently serves as the president of the Michigan Mayor's Association, played a large role in the planning  and hosting of the 2009 Youth Symposium as part of the hosting community. The Detroit Recreation Teen Council with leader Karla Williamson (left), Youth Symposium attendees march to the beat of a different drum during a conference icebreaker (center) and the Huntington Woods Teen Council, with supervisor Tracy Shanley (right).

For a printer friendly version of this article, click here.

Throughout Michigan, there are youth and teen groups working to make a difference in local communities and municipal governments. Often, these groups take the form of youth or teen councils, which serve as a forum for teen leaders who aim to make their community a better place. Youth councils are organizations through which teens can play an active role in local government, community building and volunteerism. Many youth councils are run through Park and Recreation Departments, and why not? Park departments are "community based departments, with connections to both schools

and local government," said Derenda Howard, recreation specialist at Oakland County Parks and Recreation and member of the MRPA Youth and Teen Initiatives Committee. In addition, MRPA and local park departments "have a large network, the necessary connections to the community, and much of what we do is already youth centered," added Howard. "We are set up quite well to facilitate the building of youth involvement in communities." Tracy Shanley is a Youth and Teen Initiatives committee member, recreation programmer at Huntington Woods Parks and Recreation, and the supervisor of the Huntington Woods Teen Council. Shanley feels that "recreation agencies are definitely the right organizations to engage youth, because everyone is somehow and in some way involved in recreation." Shanley also added that "recreation is a low risk way for teens to participate, without the threat of having to get a good grade on a project through school, or being forced by parents to be involved." The benefits of community youth councils extend not only to the teen participants, but to the surrounding community as well. The organizations provide a venue for team building, civic engagement and leadership development for participants, yet also contribute greatly to local municipalities. Many councils host fundraising events and activities for local teens, but also frequently volunteer their time to facilitate activities run through municipalities and community organizations. Connecting Youth Councils the MRPA Way The MRPA Youth and Teen Initiatives Committee serves as a network for members of local government to connect and share ideas through statewide youth and teen initiatives. Like Shanley, many committee members are involved with youth councils in their own community. Bryan Farmer is one such member. Farmer, who is the recreation supervisor with Farmington Hills Special Services, is also the advisor to the Farmington Hills/Farmington Mayor's Youth Council. Founded in 1999, the Farmington Hills/Farmington Council was the first Michigan youth council developed under an ordinance, which cemented its status as a permanent organization in the community. Farmington Hills Special Services, the park and recreation agency for the city, "began getting phone calls from other mayors, community leaders and recreation departments looking to start their own councils," said Farmer. To meet the needs of inquiring communities, the Youth and Teen Initiatives Committee set to work planning the first ever MRPA Michigan Youth Symposium which was held in Traverse City in 2002. The symposium, held in partnership with the Michigan Municipal League, was a one-day event that brought together city managers, mayors, park professionals and youth councils, to help other municipalities start youth and teen councils of their own. More than 120 people attended the first Youth Symposium. (Continued)   Page    2    3  City of Adrian Mayor Gary McDowell sat down for a video interview with MRPA at the 2009 Michigan Youth Symposium. Check out the five minute interview above to hear Mayor McDowell's take on the importance of youth engagement in communities and municipal governments. McDowell, who currently serves as the president of the Michigan Mayor's Association, played a large role in the planning  and hosting of the 2009 Youth Symposium as part of the hosting community. The Detroit Recreation Teen Council with leader Karla Williamson (left), Youth Symposium attendees march to the beat of a different drum during a conference icebreaker (center) and the Huntington Woods Teen Council, with supervisor Tracy Shanley (right).