Apply to be one of up to eight organizations in the Meaningful Youth Engagement Lab!

Restless Development is launching a new learning and practice community on meaningful youth engagement (MYE) for US organizations in the workforce development sector.

The Youth Task Team (YTT) is a youth-led body of younger staff from each partner organization who will help lead as experts of their own realities. The YTT will ensure MYE is practiced throughout the project design, implementation, and accountability. Moreover, they will be key agents in the design of assessments, trainings, and action planning.

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Benefits

The Meaningful Youth Engagement Lab will bring together up to eight nonprofits with different levels of MYE experience. They will support them through assessment, training and action planning on organizational change processes strengthening their youth-centered engagement. Selected organizations will participate in 2-3 half-day training on priority themes identified by your own organizational assessment, followed by tailored mentorship and technical assistance. As part of the Lab, you will have the opportunity to raise questions, problem solve, and share learnings with peer organizations and youth leaders while joining a supportive community to help keep you accountable to your organization’s MYE goals.

Eligibility

• a US non-profit in any aspect of workforce development
• has youth interested in improving MYE
• Organizations should identify at least one willing young staff member or youth leader (18-30 years old) to participate as a Youth Task Team member.

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Selection process

Internal Steering Committee formed by adult and youth staff will ensure fair selection of organisation. The Steering Committee will review and select up to eight organizations based on the application process.

Criteria for selection will include organizations that express enthusiasm for adopting MYE in their organizational structure, the availability of an internal candidate for the Youth Task Team, and organizations that are in the early to intermediate stages of integrating MYE.

Timeline

December 2021 – January 2022: Selection window of up to eight organizations.

 February: MYE Lab Launch and orientation of selected organizations.

February – March: Youth Task Team leads assessment process at their organizations, with support from Restless Development to identify unique opportunities for action.

March – April: Youth Task Team collectively shapes training, incorporating their assessment findings, ensuring their priorities are reflected.

April – August: All organizations gather for 2-3 collective trainings online, supported by YTTs, to co-create their MYE action plans.

July – November: Rolling out action plans with the support of monthly one-on-one’s, mentorship, technical assistance, and co-creating MYE resources.

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Apply Here!

The deadline to apply to the MYE Lab is January 15th, 2022 at 6 pm EST.  Shortlisted organizations will have a follow-up phone call with the Steering Committee.

The selected organizations will be notified by the end of January 2022.