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5 <br />Educating.and.informing.youth.about.. <br />municipal.government.and.inviting.young. <br />people.into.the.corridors.of.City.Hall.is.a.. <br />crucial.first.step.to.breaking.down.these.. <br />barriers..An.informed.youth.population.. <br />will.be.more.empowered.and.likely.to.vote,. <br />volunteer,.work,.and.take.a.leadership.role.. <br />in.their.communities.. <br />Educational.campaigns.aim.to.increase. <br />knowledge.and.change.attitudes.of.a.parti- <br />cular.group.in.the.community..These.can.feel. <br />like.intangible.goals,.making.the.prospect.of. <br />educating.and.informing.youth.seem.infinite.. <br />However,.designing.a.targeted.campaign.or. <br />educational.initiative.for.a.specific.audience. <br />can.ensure.that.you.maximize.municipal.. <br />resources.and.achieve.your.resources.. <br />With.the.advent.of.social.media.and.online. <br />tools,.increasing.awareness.and.sharing.. <br />information.with.youth.does.not.have.to.. <br />be.costly..In.this.section,.you.will.find.key. <br />principles.for.initiating.an.educational.or. <br />awareness.campaign.that.engages.youth,. <br />suggested.activities.and.tools,.youth.orga- <br />nizations.to.consider.reaching.out.to,.and. <br />best.practices.from.municipalities.who.. <br />have.experience.in.youth.engagement.. <br />key Principles <br />Reaching.out.to.young.citizens.and.providing. <br />information.about.the.work.of.municipalities.. <br />can.take.a.variety.of.forms:.a.contest.or. <br />event,.a.presentation.in.a.school,.an.aware- <br />ness.campaign,.or.utilizing.online.platforms. <br />like.social.media.and.websites..This.section. <br />outlines.four.key.ideas.to.think.about.in.. <br />planning.a.successful.activity.and.then.. <br />provides.concrete.examples.. <br />1. audIence:.What.audience.are.you.. <br />targeting?.Is.it.made.up.of.elementary. <br />students,.high.school.students.or.young. <br />professionals?.Do.they.have.specific.areas. <br />of.interest.(e.g..sports.and.recreation,.. <br />environment,.or.business)? <br />2. VISIbIlIty and tImIng:.What.is.the.best. <br />timing.for.your.event.or.campaign?.Will. <br />you.be.competing.with.other.initiatives.. <br />or.can.your.efforts.be.maximized.by.coor- <br />dinating.with.other.municipalities.or.local. <br />events?.Are.you.focusing.on.a.specific.day,. <br />week,.or.month? <br />3. PartnerShIP:.Are.there.schools.or.other. <br />community.stakeholders.that.can.help.. <br />you.initiate.the.activity.and.reach.your. <br />audience.effectively? <br />4. releVance:.Does.your.campaign,.or. <br />event,.focus.on.issues.that.are.important. <br />to.your.audience?.Are.you.using.language. <br />and.examples.that.link.the.issues.to.the. <br />immediate.lives.of.those.in.your.audience? <br />examples of activities <br />Local Government Week or Day <br />Organizing.a.Local.Government.Week.(LGW). <br />or.Local.Government.Day.(LGD).can.be.an. <br />effective.way.to.raise.awareness.among. <br />youth.about.the.important.role.that.munic- <br />ipalities.play.in.our.communities..A.LGW.or. <br />LGD.should.target.a.specific.audience,.focus. <br />resources.within.a.specific.timeframe,.reach. <br />out.to.schools.or.other.partners,.and.focus. <br />on.themes.that.are.important.to.your.target. <br />audience..In.addition.to.an.official.proclama- <br />tion.by.the.municipality,.a.LGW.or.LGD.might. <br />feature.interactive.activities.that.encourage. <br />participants.to.begin.to.make.connections. <br />between.their.lives.and.municipal.govern- <br />ment..Examples.of.initiatives.that.could.be. <br />included.in.a.LGW.are: <br />Simulation/Role Playing <br />•.Hosting.a.mock.council.meeting.in.which. <br />students.are.the.elected.officials <br />•.Partnering.with.schools.to.organize.mock. <br />municipal.elections.or.referenda. <br />•.Inviting.students.to.debate.school.board. <br />trustees.on.an.educational.issue <br />3.Political.Engagement:.Building.on.Momentum.to.Increase.Youth.Participation <br />.http://www.arabellaadvisors.com/research/political-engagement-building-on-momentum-to-increase-youth-participation/#ixzz3AIj78vxH.