Why We Need the FPY Youth Advisory Council: As a youth advocacy agency, we believe that the input and energy of youth are vital to the success of our mission of reducing youth violence and promoting positive youth development. The involvement of youth in our various programs allows us to keep their needs and interests at the forefront of what we do.

How We Do It: In 2008, FPY was the recipient of an internship stipend provided by the ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program. This internship was used to create the YAC and begin the partnership between FPY staff and the teens on YAC. The first YAC project was a video they created to support the FPY Changing Lives Breakfast, an awards event for teens who make outstanding contributions to the community. YAC is currently working with the newly forming Mentoring Minds peer mentoring team at Lake Braddock High School to prepare a documentary and presentation for the 2009 FPY Mental Wellness Conference.

Youth Advisory Council Results: Through the feedback and participation of youth that YAC provides, FPY is better able to represent the youth perspective in its programs and activities. Council members serve in both an advisory role to Fairfax Partnership for Youth (FPY) on youth-related issues and services, and they lead youth-directed prevention and advocacy campaigns.

Partners:

ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program
Fairfax County Public Schools