This spring, American YouthWorks’ (AYW) students were one of 100 groups of young people across the country who formed a Roundtable of Young Americans as part of a White House Initiative to encourage youth to take an active role in the betterment of American society. This Roundtable opened the door for AYW youth to become involved in the issues that matter to them by providing feedback to President Obama’s Young Americans team. Students named their five top community concerns, education, transportation, crime, lack of affordable housing and lack of jobs. They then submitted their answers to the White House and can continue to stay involved with the Young Americans team by joining in White House conference calls and web chats about issues that matter to them. The Young Americans team is encouraging young people to write letters to the editor, host another round table and be open to differing perspectives.
Roundtable responses were included in an e-book, “100 Youth Strategies for Winning the Future.” The book includes workable, scalable models of success that young leaders can replicate in their own communities. For example, one group successfully rerouted a public transit line so that youth in that community would have better access to the bus system, and they saved their city money in the process! To view the book, click here.