Worcester youth council to send convention findings to city manager after May events

Leaders of the Worcester City Youth Advisory Commission and members of the youth council said they will deliver a report to the city manager summarizing what young people told organizers at a recent youth convention and retreat.

The youth council plans to finish the report in late May and request a July meeting with the city manager to discuss findings and next steps, commission chair Jen (chair, Worcester Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, Clark University) said. “We are utilizing the convention to create a report for the city manager in terms of what youth want to see in the future,” she said.

The report will compile feedback gathered at the convention — held with about 50 to 60 attendees — and at a follow-up retreat. Youth council members said workshop formats that invited discussion were especially effective and that attendees appreciated the chance to speak directly with elected officials and city staff during the event.

"People got to ask questions to the city manager about entertainment, to the youth counselors regarding safety at the parks, regarding recreation," youth council member Anahid (graduating senior, Claremont Academy; incoming Clark University freshman) said. "They really enjoyed meeting the elected officials as well."

Youth council members described the convention workshops as varied — discussion-led sessions, program presentations and informational slides — and said participants asked for longer, deeper conversations on topics like financial literacy and career readiness. "They hoped they would be longer because, you know, talking about financial literacy … you can't get everything in in 40 minutes," youth council member Von said.

Commissioners and youth members said the report will emphasize not only what youth want — often activities or programming already offered in Worcester — but why some young people do not access those services. Transportation and other access issues were cited repeatedly as likely barriers.

The youth council plans two more working sessions before summer break to finalize the report. Members said they will send the finished document to the city manager and seek a July meeting to "debrief" and discuss the council's future role. They also asked the commission to help arrange a meet-and-greet with the newly appointed Worcester Public Schools superintendent, Brian Allen.

The commission and youth council said they view the convention and retreat as a first step toward building a more consistent pipeline for youth engagement and will use the report to guide outreach planning for next year.