Engaging the Next Generation: Engage wide representation of community youth and college students by creating opportunities to participate in city government (including commissions).

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Engaging the Next Generation: Engage wide representation of community youth and college students by creating opportunities to participate in city government (including commissions).

Best Practice of this action
Rating Guideline
1 star Student involvement in Youth in City Government Day; student group engaged with city on a project; student/intern help with GreenStep action entry. Report city staff efforts to support schools/youth to improve their own schools under BPA 24.4.
2 star Student involvement in a city green committee/commission; separate youth/student committee or commission (note to what extent it focuses on sustainability issues); high school student internships offered in city government; formal city volunteer program focused on youth; create a professional development and/or mentorship program.
3 star 3 or more youth/students of varying backgrounds involved in a campaign working directly with your city council; 2 or more dedicated youth positions on a city environmental commission; ongoing connection between a high school environmental club and city commission that has youth positions; regular student interns to work on sustainability issues.
Resources

Commissions and Councils: 

Engagement in sustainability: 

Internships: 

  • Cities interested in using a college student intern to assist with one or more tasks (i.e. joining the GreenStep program, creating a green team, reporting on GreenStep actions completed, and working on new actions, etc.) should approach their local educational institution and use the GreenStep Intern Manual (2016).
  • Cities that need help in connecting with a local post-secondary school should contact their regional CERTs coordinator. Some cities have worked with a local high school, whose students often can assist a city under a school-required service learning agreement.
  • Youth and Young Adult training and service opportunities available in Minnesota: 
    • MN GreenCorps (AmeriCorps) - recent college graduates serve with communities and nonprofits to increase resiliency to climate change. 
    • Conservation Corps MN/IA (AmeriCorps) - youth and young adults grow as environmental stewards and leaders while giving back to the community through meaningful service. 
    • Community Forestry Corps (AmeriCorps) - engages members in the preservation and revitalization of Minnesota’s forests. 
    • Home Energy Corps (AmeriCorps) - provide education and services to encourage energy efficiency and the use of solar energy in households. 
    • Lead for Minnesota (AmeriCorps) - recent college graduate fellows serve with small and medium sized communities working on the toughest challenges facing their communities. 
    • Increasing Diversity in Environmental Careers - fellowship, mentorship, and paid internship through Conservation Corps, MnDNR, MPCA, and BWSR for underrepresented STEM college students. 
    • Emerging Environmental Leaders - cohort based program connecting young adults in Minnesota with state agency leaders on Minnesota’s most pressing environmental issues.
Order Number
6
Action Type
Finite