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PARTICIPATORY CITIZENS PROJECT

In an era of economic progress through social connections, the Youth Leadership Development Institute's ("the Institute") Participatory Citizenship Project offers twenty-five eleventh graders from public, private, and home schools located throughout Ulster County an empowerment opportunity to develop life connections that will not only assist them in their career development but will also increase their civic leadership knowledge and commitments. The Institute seeks to bring youth training and access into leadership and decision-making roles necessary for participatory citizenship within their own communities.

INSTITUTE VISION

Each individual effectively and fully exercises her/his responsibilities, roles, and rights of citizenship;
Each individual is, from an early age, provided with empowerment opportunities for development of the skills and values of responsible citizenship;
All youth are valued and respected as essential community assets;
And, all youth are adequately prepared for stewardship of our local and global communities.

PARTICIPATORY CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM: MISSION

The Participatory Citizenship Program is a community-based collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing the development of citizenship skills among Ulster County Youth so that they may become active, contributing members of their communities. We accomplish this by providing empowerment opportunities that prepare youth for active membership in a democratic society. These opportunities include both supportive training in civic values, community service and leadership, as well as the responsibilities, roles, and rights of citizenship; and, active participation in decision making and problem solving roles through links with community organizations.

PARTICIPATORY CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM: CORE PRINCIPLES AND VALUES

The preservation of a democratic society depends on the active participation of its citizens.

Empowerment, not entitlement, is the foundation of character development, leadership behavior, and responsible participatory citizenship.

Development of the skills and values necessary for participatory citizenship must begin in the youngest citizens of a democratic society.

The skills and values necessary for effective participatory citizenship cannot be taught or acquired in isolation. They must be learned through application and experience.

Youth are the future stewards of our participatory democracy.

Youth are a current, not deferred, valuable source of information and leadership in a democratic society.

Building capacity for sustainability and stewardship of a democratic society must include youth as an essential source of human capital.

Connecting youth to their communities is the first step in developing citizenship skills and values and building community capacity.

Connecting youth with positive adult role models of civic responsibility, leadership, and participation is key to the development of citizenship skills and values.

Youth who are connected to their local communities through service opportunities are more apt to participate as active adult citizens in state, national, and global communities.

A collaborative project of the YWCA of Ulster County, Ulster County Youth Bureau, and supporting