Youth Engagement
Research shows that civic knowledge and community involvement are declining in the United States, as evidenced by poor voting rates amongst young adults. Also, studies suggest that the greatest predictor of an individual’s civic noninvolvement is past noninvolvement.
Kentucky Youth Advocates' youth engagement program intends to serve two purposes:
- To incorporate youth perspectives into the organization’s existing work.
- To impart the organization’s expertise in data-based advocacy to individual youth and youth-serving organizations.
Accordingly, the goals of KYA’s youth engagement program include:
- More successfully advocating for state and local policies benefiting Kentucky children and youth.
- Teaching youth leadership skills and offering opportunities for meaningful civic participation.
- Cultivating Kentucky’s upcoming generation of leaders and citizens.
Recent Work
Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol
To prepare for Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol (CAD) every year, youth ages 13 to 18, begin meeting with KYA to learn about data-based advocacy strategies and specific Kentucky policies affecting children and youth. These youth select specific issues from the existing Blueprint for Kentucky's Children agenda.
The day of, student representatives lead the kick off rally, with youth speakers presenting to more than 500 advocates. Afterwards, youth participants meet with legislators, attend committee meetings, and sit in on House and Senate sessions.
From the 4th Annual CAD in 2008, read youth rally speeches and youth participant reflections, and check out press coverage and photos. From the 5th Annual CAD in 2009, read youth participant reflections and see the Providence School on WTVQ.
KIDS COUNT
On December 4, 2008 KYA released the 2008 KIDS COUNT Kentucky County Data Book. Students from Eastern High School, DuPont Manual High School, DeSales High School, and the Brown School presented the findings to child advocates and community leaders at the Louisville Metro United Way. The findings were also presented by the Providence School in Jessamine County, and by Harlan Independent in Harlan County. See photographs from the Providence School.
Youth Photography Projects
Congregation Adath Jeshurun sponsored a photography project for 10 Harlan Independent middle school students in August and September of 2007. Youth photographed both strengths and challenges in their community and then presented their work, Appalachia As We See it: Photos from Harlan Youth, in Louisville on September 8, 2007. See photographs from Harlan youth.
With the support of a Louisville Metro Office of Youth Development grant, Kentucky Youth Advocates engaged 12 immigrant youth in Louisville in a youth voices project, Eyes on Our New Hometown: Photographic Perspectives from Louisville's Immigrant Youth. See photographs from the exhibit.
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