Detroit city officials are inviting young residents to share their ideas for improving the city through a new initiative called Youth Solutions, as WDIV ClickOnDetroit reported. This program, which emerged from a broader desire for increased youth engagement across the city, aims to gather proposals from young Detroiters and develop them into actionable city programs with appropriate resources and support.
Staff from the City of Detroit’s Youth Affairs office have been actively promoting the Youth Solutions initiative. Their efforts include using social media outreach and conducting the State of the Youth school tours. These tours consist of a series of town hall-style meetings held at 24 public and charter school campuses throughout Detroit. These gatherings serve as a platform for the mayor, city staff, and community stakeholders to engage in open conversations with teenagers about what they value in Detroit and what changes they wish to see implemented.
During one such gathering at Northwestern High School, students expressed a clear desire for more opportunities and support. Their requests included the development of programs specifically designed for younger teens, improved job opportunities, and access to mentorship. A senior at the school noted that many young people in Detroit experience significant difficulties, suggesting that adults often do not fully grasp the challenges they face.
JerJuan Howard, Director of the city’s Office of Youth Affairs, highlighted that Youth Solutions provides young people with a crucial platform. This platform allows them to articulate ideas directly shaped by their everyday experiences within their own neighborhoods, local parks, and schools. The initiative is open to all Detroiters up to the age of 26. The Office of Youth Affairs anticipates that approximately ten of the submitted ideas will be selected to advance into workable programs, with the city offering the necessary resources and support to bring them to fruition.
Students at Northwestern High School have expressed optimism regarding the initiative's potential. A sophomore, for example, voiced a strong desire to be involved in the program and expressed a hope that it would lead to lasting opportunities and growth within the community. This sentiment underscores the youth’s readiness to contribute to their city’s future.
Already, some youth-led ideas are progressing through the development stages, according to the city’s Office of Youth Affairs. These include a program focused on addressing gun violence and a project aimed at neighborhood beautification and landscaping. These early examples demonstrate the tangible impact that young people's ideas can have on their community.
Young people interested in contributing their ideas can do so by submitting them through the Office of Youth Affairs’ Youth Solutions intake form. For additional information about the initiative, individuals are encouraged to contact the office via email at [email protected].
