Everyone has A Stake in the Positive Development of Youth

The Case for a Community Compact for Youth
By Christopher Collins

As a city and as a community, we like to say that we make young people a priority, particularly when we talk about education. Words, however, are easy. Putting young people at the center of the discussion and making their success a true priority takes innovation and a willingness to re-think our assumptions.

Making sure kids have better opportunities and healthier futures isn’t only the job of teachers, or youth workers, or parents. It is everyone’s responsibility, and no matter what you do for a living, whether you have kids in your life or not, you play an important role. Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY) has created a series of Community Compacts for Youth – informal agreements that let you demonstrate ways you support the young people in your life and in our community. Now, beyond simply saying young people’s healthy development is important, you can show it.

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