Reflections on Children and Youth Issues Briefing
Reposted from National Youth Leadership Council

Undeniably, those in attendance at the 2012 Children and Youth Issues Briefing on January 11th were among many of the most significant scholars, nonprofit leaders, and policy-makers aiming to improve the future for the youngest generation of Minnesotans. Aside from those with the power to make systematic changes, many nonprofit employees attended to be part of the conversation. Although important developments were discussed, I left the event wishing for more unity in next steps and clarity in vision for our state’s next few years. I left hoping that most of what was discussed not in fact new information for many already working in youth and education fields. Frankly, I left wanting more.

News about recent funding for North Minneapolis’ Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), St. Paul’s Promise Neighborhood, and the recent developments to replicate Ohio’s STRIVE in Minnesota were informative, but by no means should have been news to any of us.  As slides describing youth health disparities, poverty levels, and Minnesota’s achievement gap were shown, I was surprised that the data drew gasps and murmurs from the tables around me.  If you consume local news media or stay up-to-date on education/youth related organizations in this area, this stuff is hard to ignore.  But maybe that’s the problem. Are we as well-informed about our peers working in youth-serving organizations as we should be? READ MORE

Thank you for attending the Children & Youth Issues Briefing to celebrate recent successes, identify issues of importance for the 2012 legislative session and learn more about innovative initiatives making a difference in our communities. We hope you found the briefing to be informative and energizing.

When leaders of government, business and nonprofits align resources and devote themselves to overcoming challenges, we can achieve great things. Let’s leverage the current environment through cooperation, innovation and alignment to achieve exponential results for children.

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