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Hampton, Virginia has attracted attention from other cities since it created two part-time staff positions for teens in 1997. The pair work 15 hours a week after school for two years and are responsible for overseeing the youth component of the city's comprehensive plan. The Youth Planners identified youth space, transportation, employment and caring relationships as four main issues to work on; they conduct research, interviews, surveys etc., then deliver the results to relevant city agencies (the school board, department of transportation, parks/recreation, etc.). How and why did this program get started?
Who is involved? The city sends out applications to all high schools
and conducts a group interview with interested teens about the expectations
and duties and roles of the job. Normally 5-8 teens go for the full application
process. From there it's just like any other job interview - a committee
meets to select the best candidates, and supervisors also meet with parents
of newly selected Youth Planners. What goes on as part of this program? The two Youth Planners have an office in the City's
planning department, where they take on different tasks as determined
by other city agencies, the Youth Commission, or other groups. For instance,
in 2001 Kathyrn Price and her fellow Planner, Rashida Costley, were working
with the local transit agency to research transportation options for
teenagers - getting input from young people on a new light rail system
and other initiatives, as well as transit costs and teens' access to it.
They also work on a regular basis with the parks/recreation department
with information, providing information, ideas for events, or acting as
a partner in park events. On request from the City Council, the Youth Planners are also developing a guidebook to identify and define "youth-friendly" characteristics for places, businesses, services and programs that include youth. Youth Planners also work with facilities to help them serve - and appeal to - teens. "If they don't have the mindset of what young people want, then they have a problem - they have to change with the changing interests of youth," says Kathryn. "My parents loved bell bottoms and disco, but that's not what we want. If facilities and services don't work to find out what we want, they will be underused and it will be a waste." In that same vein, they're working to create a center that teens can call their own. As of 2001, developing this place had become part of the city budget, and the Youth Planners were helping define a security plan and looking at options for building a new facility or adapting an existing building. How has the program changed the community - and the participating teens? The most obvious benefit is having a permanent presence of youth within the city government. The Youth Planners meet with a number of city agencies, so their ideas and recommendations can have a wide-ranging effect on how the city serves its young people. But there are a number of personal benefits for the Planners, as well: "My favorite part is going to focus groups all
over the city, says Kathryn. "When you're in school you see the same
faces all the time and don't really branch out much - even if you participate
in clubs. With this job you have to find out the opinions of people you
don't get to talk to every day. I've met people who are really neat, and
it's opened my eyes to a lot of things that our city is capable of doing,
both now and in the future. Challenges "With a hard job like this, expectations are higher
than if you're flipping hamburgers, and we don't have college degrees
in this field," says Kathryn. "But still, our co-workers are
open to how we adjust and get our work done, which is really helpful when
you're unsure of things. Another difficulty is keeping the job to 15 hours a week, since there's always so much to do - and scheduling all the meetings they have to attend. "Adults really do have busy schedules," Kathryn observes, "and they don't always fit well with those of us who are still in school."
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Hampton
has long been among the more forward-thinking cities in viewing its youth
as a resource. The city positions for two Youth Planners grew out of a
community mapping project in which young Hamptonites created a comprehensive
resource identifying the places, services, and activities available to
them throughout the city. The Planner jobs serve as a way to build relationships
between youth and the city - and to give youth an official voice within
city government. There's also a Hampton Coalition for Youth; Alternatives,
Inc., an organization that facilitates partnerships between adults and
teenagers; and the Hampton Youth Commission, whose committees take on
various issues related to teens. 
They
attend meetings with other planners and the City Council, where
they give presentations (both informal and using Powerpoint); and
have monthly public meetings with Hampton's Youth Commission, where some
40-50 youth show up (adults are allowed to attend, but participation is
limited to teens). At a typical meeting, they might break attendees into
groups to collect information through brainstorming, focus groups
or surveys. Later, they do report sessions to analyze the information
they're collecting. 
