Incorporating youth voice in a program’s operations is both straightforward and nuanced. It involves logistics, like hours of operations, location, and provisions (food, swag, technologies) as well as the atmosphere – the sights/sounds/furnishings/spaces, access to bathrooms and transportation. It also includes stipends and other means of honoring youth for their time and expertise, as well as accessibility for different physical, emotional, learning needs.
- Comfy Spaces Infographic: Youth speak up about what they need to feel comfortable in a space and ready to participate.
- Youth Voice in Program Spaces Infographic: Here’s a quick glimpse at four ways to incorporate youth voice in program operations and environment, courtesy of teens from around Georgia!
(Behind the scenes look below: Teens used Jamboard to share their ideas and speak up about
their needs to create these infographics!)
- Example video of youth voice in welcoming peers to a space
Involving youth meaningfully in budgeting
How can a program budget be inspired and informed by youth voices? Youth voice in budgeting starts with asking for input — and training youth what a program or organizations’ budget is all about! Click here for a sample training & input process for youth, including visuals and other interactive features for understanding budgeting and income.