Youth Empowerment Council Program Overview

The Youth Engagement Services - Youth Empowerment Council is a 13-week youth development program that provides young individuals with the opportunity to hone their leadership skills while working alongside city officials to improve their community. Participants will engage in hands-on experiences, gaining valuable insights into civic processes and contributing their ideas to drive positive change. Through this program, youth will develop the confidence, knowledge, and capabilities necessary to become impactful leaders in their communities.

The Youth Empowerment Council Program

• Develop Leadership Skills: Equip youth with the essential leadership skills needed to effectively guide and inspire others.

• Promote Civic Engagement: Foster an understanding of civic processes and encourage active participation in community decision-making.

• Community Improvement: Empower participants to develop and present proposals for initiatives that will positively influence their community.

• Enhance Personal Growth: Promote personal and professional development through hands-on experiences and mentorship.

• Youth Empowerment: To provide a platform where youth voices are heard and valued in the decision-making processes within their community.

Meetings

• Meetings will begin at 5:30PM

• Meetings take place bi-weekly, October through April

• Held in-person

Participation

Youth Empowerment Council Applications are currently open through September 20^th, 2024. The program will officially kick off in October 2024. 

• Number of Members: This year, we plan to provide 20 city of Richmond youth with the opportunity to participate in the Youth Empowerment Council. We aspire to assist youth in their development skills with building networks, community organizing, youth advocacy, and acting as youth representatives to Richmond Leaders.

• Youth Eligibility: Students who join the Mayor’s Youth Academy Youth Council must align with our three criteria

1. Youth must be between 14 and 19 years of age

2. Youth must have a City of Richmond home address

3. Youth must currently be enrolled within a City of Richmond schooling institution

Youth L.E.A.D.S. Program Overview

The Youth Engagement Services - Youth L.E.A.D.S. Program presents City of Richmond youth a 13-week leadership development initiative designed to empower at-risk young individuals with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to become influential leaders in their communities. This program focuses on addressing pressing challenges such as youth violence prevention and developing proposals to help drive positive change.

The Youth L.E.A.D.S. Program is built around five key pillars:

• Learn: Provides youth with the knowledge and skills essential for leadership
• Engage: Provides youth a platform for active participation and involving oneself in community and team activities
• Aspire: Guides youth in setting short term, as well as long term, future goals while striving to achieve them
• Develop: Providing youth with continuous improvement on their personal and professional development
• Serve: Having youth be “boots on the ground” by committing to helping others and creating a positive impact on their community

Meetings

• Meetings will begin at 5:30 PM
• Meetings take place bi-weekly, October through April
• Held in-person

Participation

Youth L.E.A.D.S. Applications are currently open through September 20^th, 2024. The program kick-off is October 2024. 

• Number of Members: This year, we plan to provide 40 City of Richmond youth with the opportunity to participate in Youth L.E.A.D.S.. We aspire to empower youth to become proactive and effective leaders, foster a sense of community and responsibility, and enhance personal and professional development. We aim to encourage participants to aspire to and achieve their goals, and to instill the value of service and making a positive impact in their communities.
• Youth Eligibility: Students who join the Mayor’s Youth Academy Youth Council must align with our three criteria

1. Youth must be between 14 and 19 years of age

2. Youth must have a City of Richmond home address

3. Youth must currently be enrolled within a City of Richmond schooling institution

Summer Work-Based Learning Program

The Youth Engagement Services Summer Work-Based Learning Program presents City of Richmond youth an opportunity to engage with their community and participate in “real” work experience

The Summer Work-Based Learning program consist of:

• Career coaching

• Developing Richmond’s future workforce

• Exploration and training in a variety of career fields

• Financial compensation

• Youth receive "real" work experience

• Gaining skills that are necessary for future employment

• Mentoring and networking opportunities

Youth Work Schedules

• Youth will begin the program with orientation and pre-employment training

• Youth will be compensated bi-weekly

• Youth will be available to work up 25 hours weekly

Membership

The Youth Engagement Services Summer Work-Based Learning applications are currently closed. The application will be opened on March 1st, 2025, and remain open throughout the entire month of March.

Number of Members: This year, we plan to provide 450 city of Richmond youth with the opportunity to participate in our Summer Work-based Learning programs.

Youth Eligibility: Students who would like to join the Mayor’s Youth Academy Summer Work-Based Learning Program must align with our three criteria

• Youth must have a City of Richmond home address

• If youth are grades 8-12, youth must currently be enrolled in a City of Richmond School

• Youth must align with the programs age requirement on June 21^st 

Youth Program Age-Ranges

• Counselors in Training (Parks & Recreations)

• 14-15 years old to apply

• Teens in Richmond in Parks (Parks & Recreations)

• 14-15 years old to apply

• Virtual Earn & Learn

• 14-15 years old to apply

• Youth must be fresh to the virtual earn and learn program, no previous virtual earn and learn participants

• Work-Based placements (in-person)

• 16-24 years old to apply

• Founders Mark – Entrepreneurship

• 16-24 years old to apply

Advantages from Participating

• Develop positive work habits and attitudes

• Strengthen six key soft skill areas - communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism.

• Assessing abilities and strength

• Fostering self and career exploration

• Establishing a clear connection between education and work

• Becoming better informed to make decisions before accepting a job offer.

• Recognizing the shared responsibilities for a successful work experience.

• Leadership development and genuinely engage people in their communities.