Young people are often left out of positions of power and decision-making spaces. UW–Madison Extension’s Community Youth Development Program strengthens community environments by building the capacity of schools and other organizations to address issues that affect young people and prepare them for community leadership.

In 2022, Extension educators engaged nearly 600 partner organizations across the state and provided support around human resource development and program development and implementation. These partnerships included private nonprofits, local government agencies, and school districts.

Examples include an Extension educator in northern Wisconsin who supported a coalition of four rural school districts in the implementation of a two-day conference aimed at preventing risky behaviors among sixth- and seventh-graders. The conference included young adult presenters who have overcome addiction and tribal leaders who provided cultural and outdoor activities related to identity. Extension educators in south central and southeastern Wisconsin utilized federal grant funding to build the capacity of schools and community-based workers in order to support the development of a post-secondary pathways program for BIPOC youth.

Additionally, Extension coordinated and implemented a series of interviews and curriculum review sessions with Latino youth and adults around the state to identify important program topics and educational activities in order to increase available culturally relevant 4-H programming.

Outcomes and Benefits

These partnerships amplify the voices of young people in decision making processes. Julie Hueller from Racine County Collaborative for Children’s Mental Health says: “Bringing young people into an issue and letting them grapple with the problem from the beginning, equipping them with skill sets in how you deal with a policy — UW–Madison Extension does a great job facilitating those conversations.”

Reflecting on implementing a summit about restorative justice, Fred Garcia from Waukesha County Human Services says: “When you create a statewide planning group, there are a lot of opinions on how to handle situations. What has been powerful for me is to speak my truth and be heard.”

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