Minnesota Alliance With Youth

What is the Minnesota Youth Council?

The MYC is a diverse network of 72 eighth through twelfth-graders and adult partners from each congressional district who collaboratively identify and address youth issues. MYC members share their perspectives with policymakers, honing their critical thinking, public speaking, and leadership skills—addressing the dilemma that although young people can’t vote, they often face the consequences of policy decisions.

Since 2005, the MYC has recruited, trained, and coordinated this network, connecting members to local elected officials such as mayors, school superintendents, and city council members as well as legislators and policy-makers at the state level.

What we do:

Education and Outreach: MYC members educate and train each other, their peers, community members, and legislators on youth issues such as the opportunity gap. They also highlight the service-learning efforts of their peers through events such as Global Youth Service Day and the Red Wagon Awards.

Policy and Advocacy: MYC members are directly involved in policy-making. Annual events such as Youth Day at the Capitol and youth summits provide public venues for mobilizing other young people and disseminating unified messages.

Philanthropy: In 2013, the MYC will re-grant $50,000 to organizations, programs, or projects that support learning within and beyond the classroom. With support from Youthprise, (a Twin Cities-based youth development intermediary) young people will fund efforts in their communities while learning about grant-making and management.

How we do it:

The MYC is a youth-adult partnership: youth and adults lead the group and its initiatives together. Both youth and adults have an equal say when making decisions, utilizing skills, and learning from one another.  This partnership approach is a cornerstone of the MYC’s structure, mission, and goals.