Engaging Teens in Civic Problem-Solving

The Citizens League in Minnesota talked with groups of teens about how they want to be included in public discussion, particularly online. They published this report that outlines the following seven strategies, plus specific advice about what does and doesn’t work to reach them.

• Strategy 1: Provide sincere, transparent experiences that give teens authentic opportunities to contribute to real discussions and projects. Otherwise, don’t bother.
• Strategy 2: Rethink your definition of participation. Worry less about increasing the number of actual posts on a topic and instead be satisfied with getting teens thinking.
• Strategy 3: Assume teens can handle and want to tackle meaty, complicated topics.
• Strategy 4: Invest in adults who facilitate, coordinate, motivate, and validate.
• Strategy 5: Make it easy for teens to spread the word and participate via Facebook.
• Strategy 6: Create a space that challenges people to consider a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. Teens report that their schools are often not such a space.
• Strategy 7: Make the Web site a resource for teens to connect with the community, learn more and feel a part of something both on- and offline

If teens feel their opinions are not valued and participation is a waste of their time, it is no wonder that they fail to be actively involved in their twenties, thirties, and beyond. So please, take a moment to read about what these young people have to say and then take their comments to heart the next time you seek participation from the public!

Source: AmericaSpeaks