Youth Council is a leadership body comprised of young people from high school Peer Resources programs who collectively represent and communicate the needs of youth to management staff and serve as ambassadors of the Peer Resources program to the community.
2004-2005 Highlights
Youth Council members accomplished the following during the 2004-2005 school year:
- Helped young people build unity across schools, neighborhoods, and programs.
- Provided a youth voice to Peer Resources management and acted as leaders and role models to their peers
- Planned school-wide assemblies and conferences such as the Youth Are Resources high school and middle school conferences
- Assisted in planning programs and refining curriculum for the 2004-05 school year.
- Offered specific strategies for adults to use to develop youth leadership and philanthropy programs.
Youth Philanthropy Projects
Youth Council awards grants through the youth philanthropy project. The project is a valuable way for members to find out more about other school sites, even the ones that do not get awards. Funds are awarded for video cameras, retreats for mentoring programs, and food for support groups, among other things. A total of $6,000 for 21 youth-initiated projects at seven schools was awarded by the Youth Council last school year. The following is a summary of the guidelines developed by the Youth Council for the youth initiated projects.
Grants are awarded in any amount from $5- $500 for any Peer Resource program at any high school or middle school.
For a high school program, grants must be youth-written. Middle school programs may be youth-and adult-written.
Multiple grants from a single Peer Resources program may be awarded but they need to be for separate ideas (e.g. if a peer education team and a mural group both want to apply for funds). Funds can be used to start a new project or to supplement a current Peer Resources program. Creativity is encouraged!