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City Platform Section II, Step 21:
"Hold media events, community forums, and site visits to local programs serving children, youth, and families as a way of keeping their needs in the spotlight."
Municipal leaders can use their "bully pulpit" to galvanize the community and focus attention on key opportunities to strengthen children, youth, and families. They can help the community understand the connection between strong families and successful economic development, better schools, public health, and other community priorities. Local officials are well-positioned to raise the community's sights, spark dialogue, and encourage all key stakeholders to work together.
City Examples
Norfolk, Va.
Councilmember Daun Hester and the Norfolk Division of Youth Development have teamed up to raise awareness of several new municipal initiatives to improve outcomes for young people. In March 2006, the city announced an initiative spearheaded by Councilmember Hester to create the city's "After the Bell" model middle school afterschool program designed to meet the needs of the community and to benefit youth.
Planning for After the Bell brought together key city agencies such as the parks and recreation and youth development departments, public libraries, the public health department, as well as Norfolk Public Schools. The city kicked off After the Bell at the Lake Taylor Middle School on the same day that it announced its formal adoption of the NLC Platform for Strengthening Families.
"Making certain our children and our parents have all the resources they need is crucial for children to become healthy, vital, responsible adults in our community," said Hester. Norfolk also sponsors an annual Teen Culture Fest to highlight the city's rich culture, heritage, and diversity. In the future, Norfolk will focus on enhancing youth involvement and participation in the community and incorporating a formal youth participation component into its city-wide youth plan.
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