Abstract

Involving high-risk youth in program decisions can help build valuable leadership skills. Crispus Attucks YouthBuild in York, Pennsylvania, directly involves youth in governing the program through the election of a youth policy committee, which assists in selecting new staff, planning the program and setting program policies. This program is a PEPNet awardee.

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Issue

Youth who have dropped out of school, been involved in the criminal justice system or face other barriers to employment often need to build self-esteem and confidence to become productive citizens in the community. Crispus Attucks YouthBuild gives youth the opportunity to build leadership skills and boost their self-esteem through involvement in a youth policy committee.

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Action

Participants in Crispus Attucks YouthBuild elect a youth policy committee, which represent their voice in program decisions. Under guidance of a staff coordinator, the Youth Policy Committee meets weekly to review personnel policies, discuss program design and changes, solve problems as needed, recommend improvements, and participate in the overall decision-making aspects of the program.

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Context

Crispus Attucks YouthBuild is based on the national YouthBuild model. Participants learn construction skills by renovating housing in low-income areas while studying for a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or diploma. The program targets youth most difficult to employ between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four with low incomes. Seventy-five percent are high-school dropouts.

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Citation

National Youth Employment Coalition. PEPNet, the Promising and Effective Practices Network. http://nyec.modernsignal.net/page.cfm?pageID=110

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Evidence

Crispus Attucks YouthBuild's average attendance rate is 91 percent and average retention rate is 75 percent. Fifteen percent of participants were placed in college and 74 percent of participants were placed in permanent employment.

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Posted On

September 18, 2001

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For More Information

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Related Practices

• Involving youth as decision makers
• Engaging youth as decision-making partners in organizations
• Building young leaders through service-learning

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Related sites

National Youth Employment Coalition

Topic Areas

• At-risk youth
• Community building
• Crime prevention
• Public safety
• Violence prevention
• Civic engagement
• Nonprofit management
• Community partnerships
• Partnerships
• Community-Based Organizations
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Youth
• Program management

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