This case study of youth involvement in public decision-making is one of several done for Health Canada by the Canadian Association for School Health. To return to the beginning of Selected Case Studies of Youth Involvement in Public Decision-Making click here.

The Youth Show Case is organized each year in the City of Nepean. It is intended to highlight the capabilities of young people and to celebrate their success. The event has the support of a manager and two part-time coordinators and is organized by a group of youth selected by the city staff. Schools and other youth organizations are encouraged to submit names of youth and suggestions for activities. The most popular event with youth tends to be the "Jam" each year.

This straightforward event is successful in reaching a large, varied number of youth each year. The message is simple, to promote a positive image of youth to the community. The event began several years ago when there was conflict between youth and city programs over the availability of the Sportsplex facilities (city arena and other sports facilities centres). The event is sponsored, in part, by the city in regards to funding the staff support and core budge. However, the event is dependent upon corporate donations to support the program and specific activities.

A.     Basic Descriptive Data

There is a Tradition of Success

This showcase of youth achievement has been operating for 18 years. It has become larger and better organized each year, with numbers growing each year. Some activities have become annual events, others have not worked, but the program is very successful.

The Purposes/ Goals are Clearly Related to Those of the City

The showcase is part of City Hall's efforts to involve youth. The program began when the City was experiencing problems with youth in the scheduling of the Sportsplex and other facilities. The program was originally established to improve the relationship between city programs and youth. The goal of the Showcase is to offer opportunity to youth to participate in city activities.

There is a History of Involving Youth

The city has several programs to involve youth.

The Youth Audience is Large and Varied

The Showcase is aimed at the 20,000 city youth population. The program targets those aged fifteen and over. A good mix of youth are involved. The city gets cooperation from most high schools in organizing and publicizing events. High risk youth are involved in activities relating to the competition of rock bands. This reflects the interests of the intended youth audience. The program involves about 4000 youth each year. The Showcase has built a credible reputation over the years.

The Assigned Resources are Adequate

The program is subsidized by City hall. There is designated office space and the program has a manager and two part-time staff. The activity is dependent on other private sector contributions

The Youth Participation is Sustainable

The two paid youth leaders stay for 4-10 months. They sometimes return if they don't go away to school. About 20 untrained youth volunteers help organize the events.

The City's Policy Framework about Youth Participation is Stable

There is no written mandate for the Showcase. But a written plan has evolved from the many years of experience.

Successful and Unsuccessful  Activities are the Basis of Changes in the Activities

Some events don't work and are dropped for the next year. The single greatest impediment is lack of staff time.

B.     Levels of Participation

According to the CMHA (1995) terminology, the participation is episodic in nature, with youth being involved at special events as the audience. The levels of individual involvement are primarily that of volunteer and audience. The two part time staff are the core leaders. There are an additional 10-25 volunteers to organize the activities, depending on events each year. About 4000 attend the events.

C.     Specific Roles, Tasks

Youth assume several of the tasks related to events planning and organization and delivery. Youth initiate the events.

D.     The Quality of the Process

Some of the Basic Principles in Involving Youth are Applied

The youth select their own activities. The youth organizers are able to suggest ideas for activities and staff decide on their feasibility. There is an active process to recruit new youth each year, through the schools. The process allows for two levels of participation from youth, as volunteers or as audience members.

However, the youth are not involved in selecting their successors. The budget and funding for the event is predetermined either by the City Council or by corporate sponsors. There is no training program to enable more youth to participate. It is not clear if the developmental abilities of the youth are taken into account in recruiting the volunteer organizers. There was no mention in our interviews of how youth feedback was taken into account by organizers each year. However, the youth have the ultimate say in that they can choose to attend or not.

Several of the Barriers to Youth are Addressed

Steps are taken in the first meetings with volunteers to ensure that they understand the process. Youth apathy and fluctuating levels of involvement are a constant challenge to the organizing process. The whole point of the Showcase is to present a positive message about youth. This is done with corporate sponsors, with every flyer sent out and with every call that is made to the community.

Resistance from adults was overcome in the early years by an active support from City Council. Now, there is little resistance from adults. The Mayor occasionally mentions the Showcase in his messages to the community in the local media. City Council has been supportive.

The time of the meetings is after school and the dates elected are chosen to be convenient to the youth volunteers.

The credibility of the youth leaders is demonstrated at each set of events as many youth show up to participate. The accountability of the youth volunteers has been excellent once they have found an activity they like and commit to helping with it. The youth are able to select tasks that they can manage.

Several of the Needs of Youth are Met

The relevancy of the activities is assured because the youth select their activities either as a volunteer or as an audience member. Volunteers are recognized at the event, in a letter sent by the city, and with a small gift from the city. The dinners held by the volunteers in organizing the event become fun for the volunteers. The Showcase itself is recreational and fun as well. The opportunity to form friendships with students from other high schools is a strong motivator for the youth. Security measures are only necessary at the large event of the Showcase.

The Youth are Accountable for the Volunteered Activities

Once the plan of events is developed and the youth have agreed to their commitment, the staff and youth work out timetables and deadlines. The volunteering for the event is not a huge time commitment so there are no concerns regarding youth health, family or school commitments suffering.

Adult Support is Provided in the Meetings

The part time staff provide guidance and support at the meetings and with the volunteers as they organize their activities. There does not appear to be a need to provide emotional or other forms of support in this time-limited activity. At times, the part time staff need to explain the constraints of the system when ideas are suggested that are not feasible.

E.     Specific Support

The young volunteers tend to stay involved for a couple of years in organizing and reorganizing the event in subsequent years.

Youth were not really involved in the original decision to delegate the organization of the event to youth. Nor are they involved in the decision-making about the level of financial support for the Showcase. The youth-adult equity in the decision-making process is limited to the choice of activities for the Showcase.

F.     Evidence of Outcomes

The success of the event is demonstrated by the large numbers of participants each year. The goal of promoting the positive image of youth in the community and of offering a recreational opportunity for the youth to use the city facilities is being achieved through this activity.