Youth Senate
WHAT IS THE SENATE?
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The Ann
Arbor Youth Senate is a citywide representational
body of youth whose purpose is to achieve more of a
voice for youth in the decision-making process of the
community’s civic and public institutions. Forums
are organized at each public high school where projects
are implemented at the school level and representatives
are appointed to work at the city level. |
To achieve their
goals, teens meet weekly in their school-based Forums and
monthly on a citywide basis. Senate Officers and Committee
leaders from Forums meet weekly to address issues of common
concern to youth in the community.
In contrast to corresponding
initiatives in other cities, the Ann Arbor Youth Senate is
a representational democratic infrastructure set up by and
for teens across Ann Arbor. The 2001-02 school year was an
important organizational development year for the Senate.
Each Forum obtained official club status at its respective
school, a working committee structure became operational at
the city level, and advisory status with the School Board
was acquired.
During the 2002-03
school year, the Senate continued refining its structure and
advisory roles to the City and the School Board on issues
of concern to youth. Activities have included conducting voter’s
registration clinics in high schools in fall and spring, focus
groups and surveys among 38% of public high school students
on priorities for school improvement and distributing the
subsequent March, 2003
Report to the School Board and the community (available below
in PDF format). The Senate also conducts an Annual
Big Whig vs. Senate Softball Game at the YEP Annual Picnic
in May.
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The Youth Senate
is a program of the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP),
a nonprofit organization created by teens to increase
the representation of youth in the service and decision-making
life of the community. YEP fills a unique niche for
teens who benefit from active, leadership roles in their
schools and broader community. |
Teens 16 years and older comprise
up to 50% of voting members on the YEP Board of Directors,
the maximum allowed by Michigan law. With adult support, and
based on the recommendations from focus groups among 15% of
Ann Arbor high school youth in 1999, YEP teens have developed
ten exciting programs. Today, due to the perseverance of YEP’s
Leadership Team over the past five years, the Senate has a
growing infrastructure for furthering youth voice in civic
institutions.
For School Forum
Schedules: View our Calendar.
OR Call our office:
761-3003
OR email: senate
(delete for spam control, invalid address) @youthempowerment.com
PS! Order
your Senate T-Shirt! Email us at senate
(delete for spam control, invalid address) @youthempowerment.com
today.
Sturdy, blue, and
across the back it says:
“…of
youth, by youth, for youth!”
Senate’s
March, 2003 Senate Report to the School Board on Student Priorities
for School Improvement (17 pages w/color graphs) now available
in PDF format!
2002 - 2003 Voter Registration
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