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<br />Background on the Community Youth Development Initiative <br /> <br />"All citizens should have the opportunity to be active, but all will not respond. Those who do respond carry the <br />burden of our free society. ! call them the Responsibles. They exist in every segment of the community - ethnic <br />groups, labor unions, neighborhood associations, businesses - but they rarely form an effective network of <br />responsibility... they must find each other, learn to communicate, and find common ground. Then they can <br />function as the keepers of the long-term agenda. " <br />-John W. Gardner <br />Former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, <br />author, founder of Common Cause <br /> <br />Founded in 1991, the Redwood City 2020 collaborative builds meaningful partnerships with a variety <br />of community organizations and institutions to support the success of children, youth, and families. <br />By working with educators, nonprofit leaders, policy makers, neighborhood residents and youth, <br />Redwood City 2020 partners build and sustain a web of services, supports and opportunities that <br />enable youth to thrive across all settings where they learn and grow - at home, at school, in <br />programs, and in their neighborhoods. <br /> <br />Strengthening Community-wide Networks of Responsibility <br />In recent months, these leaders have expressed an interest in creating new policies, programs, and <br />pathways, not only to continue providing these supports for youth, but to work hand in hand to help <br />the entire community thrive. As a result, Redwood City 2020, in March 2008, adopted the following <br />priority area - Community Youth Development (CYD) - to respond to this need for youth to be <br />connected with their community and for the community to come together for and with their young <br />people. This overarching goal seeks to: coordinate and expand community-based youth <br />development efforts and support intergenerational partnerships to address community- <br />identified priorities. <br /> <br />Community Youth Development: Re-Weaving the Community Fabric <br />What is Community Youth Development? In short, CYD is an approach - a way of thinking and <br />working in which the whole community shares responsibility for the success of all of its young <br />people. Sharing responsibility includes investing resources to promote positive development of <br />young people across settings, using an asset building approach to address issues that prevent youth <br />from reaching their full potential, and partnering with youth as resources in enhancing the quality of <br />life for all people in the community. By working intentionally in this way, young people and adults <br />are empowered to change their communities and work together toward their shared goals. <br /> <br />Expected Outcomes <br />Community-wide planning and action that aims to support intergenerational partnerships that <br />enable the entire community to flourish is a long-term endeavor. During the past year of community- <br />wide planning, the following preliminary outcomes have been developed. <br />,. Throughout the community, young people are seen as resources and invited to engage in <br />partnerships that produce positive benefits for all involved. <br />2. Young people are able to pursue their passions and feel connected to their community. <br />3. Caring adults actively guide and encourage youth to take ownership of and contribute to their <br />community. <br />4. Families actively participate in community decision-making processes that improve their quality <br />of life. <br />5. Innovative partnerships among organizations lead the way in providing effective opportunities <br />that engage all members of the community, from youth to seniors. <br /> <br />7 <br />