Rock County Programming
Youth Leadership Spotlight
You’ve probably seen a Rock County Sheriff’s Office patrol car or a Rock County snow plow, but did you know that the Rock County Public Health Department inspects and licenses over 800 restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores and food trucks in Rock County each year?
What else does Rock County Government do. . .
NEW OPPORTUNITY!-Youth in Governance
This NEW Rock County program offers greater opportunities for youth leadership through direct participation in county government. Youth are supported by County Supervisors as mentors to learn about county issues and what they mean to them.
Are you a Rock County Resident? Are you in grades 8-11? Then we are excited to provide the chance to learn with and from you(th) about community issues!
Listen to what Dane County youth participants said!
What will YOU(th) do?
Maybe you’re not interested in food. What about the airport? Nursing homes? Land conservation? Water?
Youth participating in Rock County’s Youth in Governance program will learn more about what County government does and how it works. Youth representatives will also get a sneak peek behind the scenes of decision making!
Youth will be assigned a Rock County Supervisor as mentor on one of the standing County committees. As YIG representatives, they will
- learn first-hand about important community issues
- develop opinions and share their perspectives with decision-makers
- build communication skills 1-1 with their mentor and by learning to navigate County government processes
- reflect on, improve and share their program experience from the first orientation to the final evaluation
What should YOU(th) think about before applying?
This program is open to all Rock County youth in grades 8-11, but before you apply, ask yourself:
- Do I have enough time? You may be expected to attend up to two or three meetings per month. Typical meetings last 45-90 minutes each
- How can I get to the meetings? While some virtual attendance will be allowed, Youth Representatives will be expected to attend most meetings in person and arrange their own transportation.
- Are you interested enough to participate for an entire year? The program runs from April 2025 to April 2026. If selected, you will be committing to the entire year.
- Why does this program interest you? The application for this program includes an essay in which you’ll be asked to share why being chosen matters to you.
Who will YOU(th) work with?
On October 29, 2024, the Rock County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to create a pilot Youth in Governance program. Read full article ‘Rock County Board Creates Youth in Governance Program’.
County government develops policies and provide oversight of more than a dozen departments, more than 1,000 employees. Their responsibilities range from public safety to parks and from 911 communications to the County Fair.
Youth participants will be assigned to one of the “standing committees“. Follow the links below for more information about each committee.
- Agriculture & Extension Education Committee
- Board of Health
- County Board Staff Committee
- Education & Veterans Committee
- Finance Committee
- Human Services Board
- Land Conservation Committee
- Public Safety & Justice Committee
Specific Rock County Supervisors on participating committees volunteer to be supportive mentors and government navigators. Two youth participants will work together on each committee. The committee range from 5-9 members so youth representatives will have a front-row seat to observe and interact with decision-makers!
Learn more about each committee! (Committee Descriptions PDF)
How can YOU(th) apply?
Applications include:
- Personal contact information
- Essay question that explains why being chosen matters to you (Sell yourself!)
- Letter of recommendation from an adult other than parent or guardian
- Permission forms with signatures
Applications must be submitted and received no later than 11:59 PM on Friday, February 28, 2025. Applications are available as:
- Online form
- Printed application that can be mailed to the Rock County Extension Office, 51 S Main St. Janesville, WI 53545
- Printed application that can be dropped off at the Rock County Extension Office, 3506 N HWY 51 Janesville, WI 53545
- Printed application that can be scanned and emailed to: erin.conway@wisc.edu
Applications will be reviewed by the Rock County Extension office. Evaluation of applications, final decisions and invitations to participate will be made by the Ad Hoc Youth in Governance Exploratory Committee.
How can I support YOU(th) participation?
Positive Youth Development is critical to building civic leadership and long-term community sustainability in Rock County. Invite youth you know!
Explore the terms ‘civic engagement‘ and ‘politics‘, issues youth care about and how communities support youth development.
Learn more about the kinds of activities in Youth in Governance Curriculum Resources
Connect across the state with current UW-Madison Division of Extension Youth in Governance Programs
Youth From Rock County Participated in the YWCA Racial Justice Conference
The in-person portion provided a special youth kickoff session with our keynote speaker, Mr. Greg Ware. Youth engaged on topics of leadership and goal setting.
Throughout the conference, youth reflected on the many racial justice issues impacting our local communities and how people work to create change. Youth also connected with each other and learned from adult participants about next steps after high school.
Play our networking Bingo Card.
What are you hearing about or experiencing in your community that need to be addressed? What are you uniquely positioned to support? This is your chance to learn and take action.
We were so grateful to support the creation and implementation of a youth scholarship for the 10th Annual YWCA Rock County Racial Justice Conference. Youth applicants shared examples of their learning and advocacy in the realm of racial justice. It was impactful to hear them highlight their unique experiences and how those experiences have shaped who they are and their perspective.
Their participation meant:
- Access to amazing session content!
- Connecting with youth and adults working in our communities!
- Support to keep working towards their goals!
Further Resources:
- What are you observing in your community?
- Art? Music? Courageous Conversations? Speaking out? What actions are you currently taking to make a difference?
- What resources you use and who supports you?
- Why this opportunity matters to you!
Upcoming Equity and Social Justice Opportunities
Diversity Action Team, a community organization that provides educational opportunities in Rock County. You can explore resources from our 2022 youth led program.
YWCA Rock County Racial Justice Conference, a community leader in advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion. Specific opportunities include attending the conference, collaborating with the marketing subcommittee.
Allies of Native Nations, a community organization working to elevate the voices and experiences of First Nations. Specific opportunities include creating and maintaining social media communication.
Community Spotlight-Foco de Comunidad
First Baptist Church of Clinton celebrated on July 24 by turning their annual Family Fun Night into a (future) graduation party.
“I wasn’t planning on attending college, but now I’m really considering it.”
–High School youth who attended
La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Clinton celebró el 24 de julio convirtiendo su Noche de Diversión Familiar anual en una (futura) fiesta de graduación.
“No estaba planeando asistir a la universidad, pero ahora realmente lo estoy considerando”.
-Alumno de High School quien asistió
Click below–Haz click abajo
Explore our reasons to celebrate!
We are celebrating our (Future) Graduation because there are SO many. . .
People who will support you
- Emily Matteson-Pre-College Coach (UW-Whitewater)
- Elisa Colson -Career Coach (Blackhawk Technical College)
- School visits weekly and bi-weekly
- TRIO program for first generation students
- BEAM and MEO initiatives
- Student organizations
- Community resources
Ways to pay for school
- Start College Now (BTC)/Early College Credit Program (UW)
- Workshops about how to find and apply for scholarships
- Work-Study
- Financial Aid
Opportunities to start on the path (or change it to be) right for you
- Explore Academic Programs (UW-Whitewater) and Plan Your Next Move
- Job shadow opportunities/Internships
- Campus visits (UW-Whitewater at Rock County)
- Application help (Did you know there is no minimum GPA or essay requirement?)
- Transportation
- Changing schools (Did you know you can transfer to any UW with a 2.0 and 12 credits?)
¡Explora nuestras razones para celebrar!
Estamos celebrando nuestra (Futura) Celebración de Graduación porque hay TANTAS . . .
Personas quienes te apoyan
- Emily Matteson-Pre-College Coach (UW-Whitewater)
- Elisa Colson -Career Coach (Blackhawk Technical College)
- Asesoria/consulta en la escuela (semanal o quincenal)
- Programa de TRIO proporciona apoyo adicional para estudiantes de primera generación
- BEAM y MEO que son apoyo y servicios adicionales en BTC
- Organizaciones estudiantiles
- Recursos comunitarios
Formas de pagar la educación
- Matriculándose en cursos tempranos como Comience la universidad ahora o Programa de crédito universitario temprano
- Talleres sobre cómo buscar y solicitar becas
- Trabajo-Estudio (un programa federal de ayuda financiera)
- Ayuda financiera
Oportunidades para comenzar el camino (o cambiarlo para que sea) adecuado para ti
- Exploración de carreras
- Pasantías
- Visitas al campus
- Ayuda con solicitud de admisión (¿Sabías que no existe un GPA mínimo ni un requisito de ensayo?)
- Transporte
- Cambiando de escuela (¿Sabías que puedes transferirte a cualquier UW con 2.0 y 12 créditos?)
This summer celebration is just the beginning. If you missed our (Future) Graduation Party, you can:
- Tell us more about the kinds of activities you want by taking our First ‘Next’ Step Survey
- Explore opportunities with Blackhawk Technical College or UW-Whitewater at Rock County
- Play Juntos Lotería
- Learn more about Rock County 4-H
Esta celebración de verano es sólo el principio. Si no asististe nuestra (Futura) Celebración de Graduación puedes
- Cuéntenos más sobre los tipos de actividades que deseas respondiendo a nuestra Encuesta del Primer ‘Próximo’ Paso
- Explora oportunidades con Blackhawk Technical College o UW-Whitewater Condado de Rock
- Aprende jugando nuestra version de Lotería Juntos
- Aprende más sobre el programa 4-H en el Condado de Rock
Education
It is important for youth to work in partnership with adults to create educational opportunities and programs in our community. Our Youth-Adult Partnership Spotlight for Summer 2024 highlighted this effort in youth’s own words. Currently, Rock County is developing two examples of this partnership.
Juntos means “Together” Juntos unites the community to provide Latino/a students (8-12th grade) and their parents with knowledge, skills, and resources to achieve high school graduation. The Juntos program brings together cohorts of 8th-grade youth and their families to support each other and prepare together for higher education.
Learn more with our Juntos Handout (PDF) or Sign up to receive our statewide newsletter!
Parents say. . . Because of Juntos
“We plan to have better communication with our son, better communication with his teachers, and to check his homework.”
“Because of my participation in the Juntos program, I feel better able to ask for help for my child.”
“I feel better able to find information to help my child get to college.”
Students say. . . Because of Juntos
“I talk to my parents about my grades and important work.”
“I am setting goals.”
“ I try to spend more time with my family and let them know more about me.”
Wisconsin’s Education Data Dashboard
Look under “ESSA” in the top menu, this will open another menu where you can choose “Post Graduation Data”. This allows you to search by district.
NIA: Purpose and Pathways to the Future
A new program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture gives youth in three Wisconsin counties the chance to work with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension to explore post-high school educational and work opportunities. The USDA’s Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) program awarded $640,000 to the UW-Madison Division of Extension and North Carolina Agricultural &Technical University to launch the program Nia: Pathways and Purpose for the Future. The program will focus on serving youth in Waukesha, Rock, and Kenosha Counties – three urban and suburban counties where Black, indigenous, and youth of color often experience disparities in transitioning from high school to success in college, careers, and the adult world. Nia will also serve youth in limited-income rural communities in North Carolina.
School District of Janesville hosts Nia meetings during the school day at local middle and high schools. Youth co plan community workshop days every other month. Read more about Nia Rock County 2023-24 (PDF).
“In youth development, there is a lack of culturally relevant, evidence-based programs that give youth who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) the chance to explore their post-high school pathways while developing their cultural identities,” said Joe Maldonado, Extension’s Community Youth Development Program Manager. “They often aren’t exposed to all the options that are available to them, including trades and professional programs.”
Resources
What does Nia mean? Nia is one of seven Kwanzaa principles. Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday held annually from December 26 to January 1. Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday. It celebrates family, culture, community, and the harvest. Nia means purpose Example Activity (PDF)
Historically Black Colleges and Universities Explore Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in this clip from MAKING BLACK AMERICA. Since 1837, more than 100 HBCUs have been founded in the United States, most of them in the half century following the Civil War. HBCUs have served as preeminent institutions for educating and supporting Black Americans.
Common Black College App Since the founding of the Common Black College Application (CBCA) in September of 1998, the company has helped to break the cycle of poverty in the lives of hundreds of thousands of students from around the world. To date, over 250,000 students have completed the CBCA. Approximately 97% of those have been accepted to at least one CBCA Member Institution, and over 33% have received a scholarship that ranges from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. In addition, the CBCA serves as an irreplaceable resource to Historically Black Colleges and Universities by aiding them in the achievement of their enrollment objectives.
Community Health
Many initiatives exist in Rock County that are looking to increase youth leadership and youth voice to increase the benefit of community solutions. Our participation centers the Health Equity Training Model. Some opportunities for participation are:
- Communications Outreach-Prevention Network (Building a Safer Evansville, Milton Youth Coalition, JM4C) and Sexual Violence and Prevention (Community Coalition led by JM4C)
- Mental Health (Community Health Priority determined by Health Equity Alliance of Rock County)
- Nutrition-Collaboration with our FoodWIse program and youth leaders at Beloit Learning Academy and Rock River Charter School
