Youth Civic Engagement

Through the generosity of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Coalition is helping to build the capacity of community foundations across the country to foster meaningful involvement by young people in civic life. Youth civic engagement is a strategy that allows youth, particularly middle and high school age youth, to develop new competencies while fostering civic participation in work that will improve community life. It combines youth development, civic activism and problem-solving. It facilitates new ways for young people and adults to work together for a better community.

• Youth: An Overlooked Resource
• The Vision
• Guiding Principle
• Approaches
• Hampton, VA: A Model YCE Community

Since 2000, the Coalition has made grants to 14 community foundations to support this work. Click here to learn how community foundations are promoting YCE in their communities. For more information about youth civic engagement models and principles and to locate sources of technical assistance and training, click here.

If you have questions, contact Martha Johnston, Associate Director, Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth, at 800.292.6149 ext. 615, or by email at martha@ccfy.org.