4 | APRIL 1-7, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
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Worcester eyes empowering Youth Council leaders with paid positions Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK
For the last six years, 19 young people have had regular meetings to discuss issues facing Worcester youth. The members of this Youth Council, formed in 2015, are traditionally between the ages of 13 and 19. These are years fi lled with plenty to worry about as it is, even for those not serving as the offi cial voice of youth in matters of city government, so the level of commitment displayed by these teens is impressive. This year, the city’s Division of Youth Opportunities is taking the YC’s connection to city government a step further, creating fi ve paid positions of Youth Council Leaders, with each representing a district of Worcester. These leaders will spearhead the YC’s initiatives, meeting more often between the regular monthly meetings and connecting with other city offi cials. “We thought it’s time to pay our young people for the work that they do,” explained Jacob Folson-Fraster, assistant program coordinator for Recreation Worcester. The funding for the positions comes from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, specifi cally the Youth for Community Improvement Grant. “The goal of Youth Council has always been to create a process that is youth led,” he said. Adult allies such as Folsom-Fraster and his colleagues will act as liaisons to other city departments, but the aim is for the YC to set its own course. The goal of the positions is to
A flyer from Facebook calling for candidates for Youth Council leaders DIVISION OF YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES
Samara Fernandes, Youth Council chief of staff and senior at North High
Community engagement specialist Franklin Franco
Jacob Folson-Fraster, assistant program coordinator for Recreation Worcester
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better empower the YC, said community engagement specialist Franklin Franco, “and make it more self-sustaining with additional structural changes.” Each of the YC leaders will have two other youths working with them, one of whom will take over as YC leader when the current one ages out, creating a pipeline of ready candidates already familiar with the goals of the present council. With salaried positions, Worcester youth have true representation in city government, as the YC leaders will be able to speak to other departments as fellow city employees. As for what they will use this new sta-
tus for, Franco is hesitant to make a statement. “That’s the beauty of it, we aren’t youth anymore so we don’t know their issues, but they will decide what they do,” he said. In prior years, the YC has pursued initiatives dealing with youth homelessness, or setting aside art spaces. The YC leaders will not be without guidance, with FolsonFraster and Franco taking on a similar advisory role as with the wider YC. “We’ll discuss what the various pathways are to creating change,” said Folson-Fraster. “We will have structured ways in which they will be engaging their peers and collecting data on the biggest
issues of what young people are facing.” Armed with this information, the group will be able to bring relevant issues before policy-makers, with a direct line to City Hall and the City Council. While interviews have not started yet, the division of Youth Opportunities has a large candidate pool, drawing from public schools and city youth programs. While the term “youth” for the purposes of YC is considered under 24, ideal candidates will be in junior or senior year of high school. Interviews will be conducted individually but there will also be a group interview, said Franco, since the candidates will be
working together closely, “to see how they react to each other.” “We defi nitely want someone very committed to social change,” said Samara Fernandes, Youth Council chief of staff and senior at North High, since those who fi ll the position will be serving as an example to others their age. “A lot of time they feel ‘I’m young so there’s not much I can do’ but representation is very important to show them that they can,” she said. As the name, Youth Council Leader, suggests, leadership qualities are important, but Folson-Fraster admits that can come in diff erent shapes and forms. While being passionate about making connections in their community and bringing See COUNCIL, Page 6D
