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Aurora pilot Youth Civic Engagement Academy draws positive feedback; staff seek expansion
Summary
City staff reported a pilot Youth Civic Engagement Academy that enrolled about 15 youth, highlighted transportation barriers and recommended more experiential components and school outreach to expand participation.
Aurora staff updated the policy committee on a pilot Youth Civic Engagement Academy designed to educate and connect young residents to local government.
Jesse Byrne and community engagement coordinator Jaleesa Hankerson described the three-week pilot held in November. The program aimed "to educate, empower and connect our youth to civic life and local leadership," Hankerson said. The pilot enrolled roughly 15 students from a small number of schools and included site visits, presentations with city leaders and hands-on sessions.
Participants reported enthusiasm for civic engagement but asked for shorter daily sessions or a longer program with shorter meetings; staff identified transportation and recruitment as barriers and suggested expanding partnerships with schools, shortening daily sessions or adding experiential components such as shadowing council members and giving students an opportunity to present to the council.
Staff said the program was funded from the general fund within the Housing & Community Services department and was not costly; they asked council members to help spread the word and to consider participating in program sessions and shadowing opportunities.
The committee expressed support and offered suggestions for ways to scale and add experiential learning components. Staff said they will return with application dates and plans to recruit more participants.
