Introduction to Youth Councils - The Freechild Project

Engaging Youth in Decision-Making through Youth Councils

"Our youth are not failing the system; the system is failing our youth. Ironically, the

very youth who are being treated the worst are the young people who are going to lead

us out of this nightmare."

- Rachel Jackson

What is a Youth Council?

• Formal or Informal• Driven by Advocacy and Decision-Making• Focused on Youth Engagement• Representative by Nature• Addresses Absence of Youth Engagement• May include ages 7 to 24

Types of Youth Councils

• Auburn• Bellevue• Camas• Cheney• Colville• Des Moines• Everett• Federal Way• Grandview

• Issaquah • Kirkland • Lacey • Lakewood• Liberty Lake • Marysville • Mercer Island • Mill Creek • Millwood

• Mukilteo• Oak Harbor • Puyallup • Redmond • Renton • Sammamish • Seattle • Shoreline • University Place

“Youth should not only be trained to live in a democracy when they grow up; they should

have the chance to live in one today."

– Alfie Kohn