The Lane County Department of Children and Families’ Youth Action Board is designed to engage and enhance the Eugene community. The mission of the Youth Action Board (YAB) is to create positive change within our communities and ourselves through expressing ourselves, working together and supporting each other as a diverse group, having fun, bridging the gap between youth and adults, and taking action on issues that matter to us as youth.
The YAB is a part of the National Positive Youth Development (PYD) Initiative which aims to increase positive use of free time, positive self expression, and civic engagement of youth. PYD focuses on enhancing the lives of people ages 15-24 specifically homeless, runaway, Latino, and African American youth. Although the main focus is on youth empowerment, the YAB and PYD utilize youth adult partnerships to strengthen intergenerational engagement in the community and the nation.
Some projects of the YAB include:
• The creation of a youth council housed by the City of Eugene’s Human Rights Council.
• A community mural on the Metropolitan Affordable Housing complex behind the WOW Hall.
• The Youth Empowerment Summit May 9th 2008.
• The Youth Celebration July 20th 2007.
• Quarterly Mayor Youth Town Halls.
• Community events such as downtown cleaning or feeding the homeless.
• Empowerment through creative expression utilizing the framework of the Power of Hope.
• The creation of a multi cultural center downtown.
Some of the YAB community partners include
• LEAD ( Leadership, Education, Adventure, Direction )
• OFSN ( Oregon Family Support Network)
• Looking Glass
• CEY ( Communities Empowering Youth )
• Student Peace Alliance
• ACT-SO ( Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, & Scientific Olympics )
• DHS ( Department of Human Services)
• Back to Back/CALC ( Community Alliance of Lane County )
• Juventud Faceta
• MindFreedom International
The YAB is a part of the National Positive Youth Development (PYD) Initiative which aims to increase positive use of free time, positive self expression, and civic engagement of youth. PYD focuses on enhancing the lives of people ages 15-24 specifically homeless, runaway, Latino, and African American youth. Although the main focus is on youth empowerment, the YAB and PYD utilize youth adult partnerships to strengthen intergenerational engagement in the community and the nation.
Some projects of the YAB include:
• The creation of a youth council housed by the City of Eugene’s Human Rights Council.
• A community mural on the Metropolitan Affordable Housing complex behind the WOW Hall.
• The Youth Empowerment Summit May 9th 2008.
• The Youth Celebration July 20th 2007.
• Quarterly Mayor Youth Town Halls.
• Community events such as downtown cleaning or feeding the homeless.
• Empowerment through creative expression utilizing the framework of the Power of Hope.
• The creation of a multi cultural center downtown.
Some of the YAB community partners include
• LEAD ( Leadership, Education, Adventure, Direction )
• OFSN ( Oregon Family Support Network)
• Looking Glass
• CEY ( Communities Empowering Youth )
• Student Peace Alliance
• ACT-SO ( Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, & Scientific Olympics )
• DHS ( Department of Human Services)
• Back to Back/CALC ( Community Alliance of Lane County )
• Juventud Faceta
• MindFreedom International