07-09-1997 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 3 Wednesday, 6/11 - 10:4541:45 a.m. "City's Role in Youth Development" Sue Gehrz Weidner /Clarke/Edelbrook Dear 1997 LMC Annual Conference Participant, In 1996, the LMC adopted a definition of a "livable community" in which local government is described as being responsive to the needs of its citizens; is actively supported by enthusiastic volunteers; is open and user friendly; encourages and implements cooperation and collaboration; provides and maintains an adequate infrastructure to meet local needs; educates citizens on local, regional and state issues; informs and communicates with citizens to foster participation in public policy decision - making; and participates in youth development. The LMC Improving Community Life Committee was created to gather and disseminate information to increase the communication, facilitation, and resource development skills that city officials need to help build and maintain more "livable" communities. During the past year, three subcommittees have focused on strategies for building local leadership, educating and involving citizens in city issues, and providing leadership in positive youth development. The members of the Youth Development Subcommittee are pleased to present the attached material to assist you in planning for ways your city can proactively participate in youth development. This material is based upon the Asset Model, developed by the Search Institute, and being used by many Minnesota communities. It identifies 40 assets, or building blocks, which all young people need in their relationships and environments. The Search Institute research surveying more than 250,000 youth clearly shows that the more assets a young person has the less likely they are to engage in illegal and/or high risk behaviors. For more information about this model, contact the Search Institute at 1- 800 - 888 -7828. The forty assets provide a framework around which discussions, brainstorming, and planning can occur within city departments, in staff meetings, in Council workshops, and in community collaborations. To get you started, we identified at least one example of a specific personnel policy, staff activity, or city initiative that you could do to build youth assets. These are designed to whet the appetite, stimulate creativity, and illustrate possibilities. The following subcommittee members contributed ideas for these assets: Duane Zaun, Chair, Lakeville Mayor Dawn Weitzel, Vice Chair, Richfield Communication/Special Projects Assistant John Blahna, Landfall Mayor Sharon Feess, Brooklyn Park Councilmember Sue Gehrz, Falcon Heights Mayor Larry Nicholson, Moorhead Councilmember We expect to use the LMC web site and Cities magazine to distribute information about how cities are meeting the challenge of asset building. Please share your ideas and experiences with us. This information should be sent to Ann Higgins at the LMC. Sincerely, Sue Gehrz, Chair LMC Improving Committee Life Committee Page 26