The Brooklyn Park Citizen Long-Range Improvement Committee began studying the topic of youth opportunities in the fall of 2005 after a citizen survey commissioned by the city council showed residents were concerned about juvenile crime and a lack of opportunities for youth in the city.
After a few months, a sub-committee was formed to further explore the topic. They talked with local experts in the field of youth programming, held a round table discussion with Brooklyn Park youth, visited existing youth programs in the city, and explored what other communities have done for youth engagement. On June 25, 2007, the Brooklyn Park City Council approved formation of the Youth Opportunities Coalition and the hiring of a part-time coordinator through funding from the McKnight Foundation.
Demonstrating the city’s commitment to engaging youth, the Recreation and Parks Department hired two high school students to work during the summer as Youth Planning Interns to help guide and implement the youth opportunities effort. After just one year of work, the initiative has become a model for other cities, and Brooklyn Park is gaining a positive reputation from its youth engagement work.
What We Have Accomplished Over The Past Year:
- Developed a coalition of more than 50 adults with a core group meeting monthly to plan the Coalition’s efforts.
- Created a Teen Advisory Board to assist in the planning of summer teen recreation programming.
- Hired youth planning interns to help implement the goals of the Youth Opportunities Coalition.
- Hosted a Youth Leadership Summit in August 2007 to begin developing youth leaders in our community and to better understand what teens want from Brooklyn Park.
- Hosted a Youth and Adult Partnership Summit in March 2008 to encourage positive communication between teens and adults in the community.
- Received a grant from Hennepin County to form a Community Youth Action Crew, which consists of teens interviewing their peers and community businesses and organizations to gather information about youth opportunities in Brooklyn Park.
- Requested and received funding from a variety of sources including the McKnight Foundation, the Edinburgh Pro-Am Foundation, Hennepin County, and Target Corporation.
