- Works on projects in the community.
- Finds ways that teens can make positive changes in our schools and our communities.
- Builds real life skills: leadership, speaking and presenting, team work, goal setting, project management, and more.
- Gives teens a chance to win Safe Streets Superstar awards and receive the United Way Letter in Community Service.
- Helps you build that resume! Participation’s good for scholarships—and employment.
- Has fun!
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Show us your natural high while making friends with like-minded individuals. During this drug and alcohol-free event on August 1, Pierce County middle and high school youth are invited to show off an activity, art form or sport that they love to do and makes them feel good inside. Read more here.
Visit the Youth Leading Change MySpace page
Safe Streets Campaign’s Youth Leading Change (YLC) program gives teens across Pierce County the opportunity to develop leadership qualities—and even become community activists. YLC currently meets at Mount Tahoma, Lincoln, Foss, Wilson, School of the Arts, and Stadium High Schools in Tacoma every week. In addition, Core Youth Leaders meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Safe Streets Campaign headquarters.
YLC has plans to expand to more locations in the future, and you can help. Here are just a few of the doors that can open for you if you become a member of YLC:
Core Leaders head up YLC groups and encourage their peers to advocate for safer neighborhoods and communities by rejecting violence, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, and by joining neighborhood block watch groups and community coalitions as youth representatives. All kinds of groups in the community are looking for youth to join. This helps create violence-free schools as well. As part of the program, you will have leadership and other training opportunities. The main focus is to develop confident and well-informed advocates of public safety issues, to help lead others to take an active interest in community safety and to learn skills to act on your concerns. Once trained, you’ll have opportunities to make your voice heard with community leaders and policy makers.
Leadership Retreat: An annual event where Core Youth Leaders come together with members of the after school program to learn leadership skills necessary for success. During the weekend of training, you’ll brainstorm concerns and fears about life at school, in your neighborhood, and in your community—and you’ll develop solutions to those problems. You’ll participate in team building and learning activities—and you’ll have fun!
Legislative Visits: Speak your mind to our state’s leaders! Every year for Prevention Advocacy Day, YLC members travel with Safe Streets’ staff members to Olympia to voice their concerns to state legislators.
- Visit the capital building and learn how state government is run.
- Speak with Senators and Representatives from your community.
Tacoma/Pierce County Youth Forum: Youth Core Leaders work with other youth from Pierce County in planning and organizing the forum. This springtime event focuses on “Youth Voice” in the community.
- Youth from all over the county come together to speak up about public safety concerns in their community.
- Local community leaders are present to hear youth discussions and recommendations.
Youth March Against Violence: Unite with other youth to protest violence in our community. Every August, YLC members and other youth gather to advocate for peace.
- The Youth March Against Violence is organized by youth.
- Marchers walk along an area pre-selected by Core Youth Leaders.
YLC Groups work on safety, crime prevention, and other projects that make their schools, neighborhoods and communities healthier. Every year, Core Leaders and YLC members organize a special event that focuses on youth concerns. YLC can help you develop your leadership skills and find your unique voice. Those involved in the program learn that they can contribute to their community in many positive ways. You can learn to speak out about the problems you see around you—and work with other youth to make positive changes.
Through Youth Leading Change, area youth practice real life skills that strengthen them as individuals and promote civic activism. Join us!
If you’re frustrated with the status quo, YLC just might be your change connection!