According to the Census Bureau, 24.6 percent of the U.S. population is under the age of 18. And, it goes without saying that the youth are our future. Recognizing this, like other communities around the country, in 2005, the Novi City Council adopted a policy resolution encouraging Novi youth to become civically active within the community as members of the Novi Youth Council with the hope they become vested with the knowledge, skills and abilities to be the next generation of local leaders.
The 19-member Youth Council is charged with making recommendations to the City Council concerning the needs of children youth, and families in the city and the appropriate means by which public and private agencies in cooperation with volunteer efforts may address such needs. But if many communities have Youth Councils with the same ideals, what sets Novi apart?
The Novi Youth Council brings together teens from more than five high schools to develop goals, create initiatives and enhance the community. When first formed, the group was given a blank state upon which to look at projects and initiatives to pursue. After several discussions and brainstorming sessions, the group decided in addition to promoting civic engagement and volunteerism among youth, they wanted to break out of the “typical” Youth Council model (being seen as Parks and Recreation venue/social outlet for teens) and to focus on making an impact in the community in several areas:
- Promoting drug prevention initiatives within the schools’
- Bridging the gap between teens and seniors; and
- Creating awareness of teen depression/suicide
During their first five years, the Novi Youth Council initiated innovative anti-drug, intergenerational, and teen depress/suicide awareness programs and partnered with the community for the betterment of Nov, all with a budget of $500 annually.
