Youth On Boards in Saint Paul
Are you or someone you know interested in getting involved in the Saint Paul community while building skills in communication, advocacy, public policy, organizing, and more?
Apply for Youth on Boards Saint Paul!
Youth On Boards is a program introduces young people to civic engagement, community leadership, and potential career pathways in local government. The program consists of two parts, the Summer Academy and the school year program for full year engagement.
If you know any young people who want to share their voice and make an impact on Saint Paul, please contact haley.vien@ci.stpaul.mn.us and share the late application.
Summer Academy
The Summer Academy is a paid YJ2 internship through Right Track where young people will be compensated $15 an hour and are expected to work 20 hours a week, Monday through Thursday for eight weeks (June 20 – August 10).
Appointment to a Saint Paul Board or Commission
Once the Summer Academy ends, Academy graduates are appointed to serve on a board/commission throughout the school year for the next 2 years. Young people in pairs serve as board/commission members with full voting power to make decisions and recommendations for Saint Paul. Alongside attending their board/commission meeting, they will be expected to attend a monthly cohort meeting and a 1-1 check in. This is a 6-10 hour a month commitment and can earn a stipend up to a $125 a month for full participation and engagement.
Youth on Boards in the News!
October 29th, 2021 Six youth community members approved by the St. Paul City Council to serve on boards and commissions with new "Youth on Boards" Initiative - Prioneer Press
November 15, 2021 St. Paul Initiative puts youth on city boards, commissions - MPR News
October 28th, 2021
City of Saint Paul welcomes 'Youth on Boards' members to several City boards and commissions
Youth members were appointmed by Mayor Carter after participating in pilot program to introduce people to civic engagement and potential career pathways in local government
SAINT PAUL, MN - The City of Saint Paul today announced the addition of six inaugural youth members to several City boards and commissions as part of the Youth on Boards initiative. Youth on Boards, a collaboration between Saint Paul Parks and Recreation and the Saint Paul Public Library through their Right Track and Sprockets youth programs, introduces young people to civic engagement and potential career pathways in local government while providing Saint Paul boards and commissions with support and structure to actively include young people in the decision-making process.
The following youth appointees were approved this week by the Saint Paul City Council:
-Abas Kawo, Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Commission
-Abdul Mohamed, Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Commission
-Jizelle Lobley, Business Review Council
-Everlyn Granda, Business Review Council
-Ryan Vue, Capital Improvement Budget Committee
-Abshir Ali, Capital Improvement Budget Committee
“Our Youth on Boards initiative engages young people in shaping the future of our city,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “I look forward to working with these emerging leaders as we move forward together toward the brighter days ahead.”
The youth appointees participated in a successful Youth on Boards pilot program this summer that provided a baseline foundation on local government, navigating and serving on boards and commissions, engaging with the community as a representative and more.
"I’m passionate about social justice and equity for underrepresented groups,” said Abdul Mohamed, youth appointee to the Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Commission. “Working to create equal chances and opportunities for others sounds like the perfect commission for me to join and I look forward to getting started”
In addition to the six new members announced today, another four pilot program participants have been appointed to join the Transportation Committee and the newly forming Financial Empowerment Community Council. These appointments will come before the council for approval in the coming weeks. For more information on the Youth on Boards initiative, contact Haley Vien, at haley.vien@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
About Right Track
Right Track is Mayor Carter and the City of Saint Paul’s youth employment initiative for building Saint Paul’s future workforce, while supporting young people and their families now. Right Track addresses changing labor force demographics and education and employment disparities by connecting young people from cost-burdened homes to summer and school year internships, training them for personal and professional success, and helping employers prepare for, recruit and mentor the next generation of diverse talent.
About Sprockets
Sprockets, Saint Paul's out-of-school time network, is a citywide system coordinating afterschool and summer learning opportunities and building connections between in-school and out-of-school learning. Sprockets works to increase the quality, availability, and effectiveness of out-of-school time learning for all youth in Saint Paul through the committed, collaborative, and innovative efforts of community organizations, government, schools, and other partners.