In 2021, The Children’s Movement partnered with 13 community-based organizations in Fresno to recruit 100 residents across the county to participate in the Fresno Residents Council – a pilot program that brings together residents from all walks of life to weigh in on public policy, and ensure that it benefits youth and families in the community.
As one of the 13 member organizations, yli worked to ensure that young people were at the table by recruiting youth to participate in the Council’s leadership team. A key issue for Fresno youth, especially in rural areas, during the COVID-19 pandemic has been access to wifi and broadband as classes went online. So, we made sure to recruit youth from the small towns of Reedley and Kerman who could speak directly to this issue.
Since its launch, the Council has focused on developing leadership and advocacy skills, so that residents can articulate their needs and concerns, and interact with decision makers to make change. We are currently in the process of identifying a set of shared values and creating a mission statement.