Youth in Governance: Tips for Youth

Checklist

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Tips for Youth

This simple checklist can help you assess your ability to provide meaningful youth representation on a board or committee.

The checklist can also help everyone involved comprehend the necessary adjustments and to measure their commitment.

Do I have the motivation, ability, and knowledge needed to make a contribution to the board?

Am I aware of my job description and what the board expects of me?

Has the board communicated the specific objectives they have for me as a youth member?

Have I either identified or been assigned a mentor for my board role?

Am I aware of the unwritten agendas and flow of board meetings?

Do I work to know individual board memebers on a social level?

Do I demonstrate my willingness to learn through my words and actions?

Do I have the motivation, ability, and knolwedge to take leadership roles on the committees and/or board when possible?

Am I award of the needs, public positions, and opinions of the group(s) I represent?

Do I have the motivation, ability, and knowledge to correcpond with my community and the group(s) I represent about my governance activities?

Am I willing to ask questions that give me insight and understanding of the board's activities?

When receiving feedback, information, and answers to questions, do I recognize the expertise and experience of the adults on the board?

Am I willing to give my time and attention to all board issues, rather and just the ones that affect me and those I represent?

Do the adult members of the board hold any stereotypes about young people?

Do I hold any stereotypes about the adult members of the board?

Have board members received training about working in youth-adult partnerships?

Am I mentoring potential youth representatives who may be future board members?

Download a copy of this checklist (see page 5 of the youth guide to youth in governance).

Sources: Integrating Youth Voice in Service-learning and The Power of an Untapped Resource