The Pasadena Public Library is hosting the annual State of the Youth on Wednesday, Nov. 4, which allows the city’s young residents to discuss the Youth Master Plan and update it with the help of community leaders, school administrators, and city officials.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, State of the Youth will be an online event starting at 4 p.m.
First published in 2015, the Youth Master Plan is a blueprint for youth services in Pasadena. The plan was conceived and written with the voices of hundreds of youth advocates, youth organizations including the Pasadena Teen Advisory Board, Day One Youth Advocates, Pasadena Youth Council, and Pasadena Youth Ambassadors, and their adult allies.
Considered a “living document” that’s continuously being discussed and updated, the Youth Master Plan identifies six priorities: provide youth access to healthy food environments; provide students with access to the arts, professional enrichment, higher education, and meaningful careers; ensure all Pasadena youth are living and thriving in a safe, supportive, and bully-free environment; create a comprehensive support system connecting all aspects of youth development; ensure youth access to an effective and more affordable public transportation system; and commit to advancing positive health by providing youth-friendly alcohol and drug prevention intervention and support services.
Representatives of theTeen Advisory Board, Day One Advocates, Youth Ambassadors, Youth Council, and other volunteers meet regularly every year during meetings of the Youth Network, and State of the Youth is a much larger annual meeting where city officials and leaders are invited to hear the annual update.
At State of the Youth, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the increasing awareness of Pasadena youth resources and priorities, how to help update the Pasadena Youth Master Plan, and share youth issues that may not have been identified.
Everyone is encouraged to attend the virtual event, where the discussion and feedback will be primarily for Pasadena’s youth, ages 13 to 19.
To register for the event, go to www.cityofpasadena.net/library/calendar and click the 4 p.m. State of the Youth link on the Nov. 4 tab. It should open up an online registration form to fill out and submit online.
To download and read a PDF of the Youth Master Plan, visit this link.
