YO!

Currently, Yo! offers the following programs. For more information, please visit the Yo! website.

Empower-U Tour
Empower-U is a series of one-day conferences that take place in strategic cities throughout the United States. Empower-U offers a unique opportunity to network with some of the most influential pioneers and professionals in the world of youth development.

What’s Up Youth Information Line
What’s Up? has over 700 youth serving organizations on a database. Call What's Up? Between 10 am and 8pm Monday thru Friday, or between 12 pm and 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday and you'll be able to talk to someone your age who will connect you with places to go and things to do. All of our youth information specialists are between the ages of 16 and 18. You can also search our activity and resource database yourself to find things in your neighborhood.

www.whatsup.org, 612-399-9999

Juvenile Justice Youth Advisory Council
(JJYAC)

JJYAC is multicultural group of 12 young men and women ages 15-18 from throughout Hennepin County, approximately half in the Juvenile Justice system and half who are not in the system. The council is be made up of youth from suburban and urban areas. The youth are chosen through recommendations based on their potential leadership, articulation, and intellectual skills by youth workers, probation officers, teachers and other people who work with youth from around the Twin Cities. The young people selected come together quarterly to provide perspectives and feedback on existing and proposed policies and practices of the Hennepin County Juvenile Justice system, thus decreasing crime through newly proposed practices.

For more info contact FranzDiego @ 612-874-9696 x 21 or [email protected]

EYS (Express Yourself) Project
The EYS Project promotes YO!’s mission of “Power, Places, and Perks” through creative arts and activities.

Power: Providing young people with the resources to make powerful decisions in the community.

Places: Creating safe places to hang out and feel welcome.

Perks/; Getting youth and young adults compensated for their work either through creating relationships, opportunities, or money.

*The Twin Cities Celebration of Hip-Hop Festival and Conference
*Consulting and Planning Entertainment at Conferences
*Monthly YO! Shows – The Kick It Spot @ Dinkytowner Café
*Provide Entertainment and Hosting for Events
*Visual Art Galleries
*YO! Pages – Quarterly Newsletter
*Collaborations on Community Events
*Citywide Talent Show
*Organizing Fundraisers

For more info contact Claire @ 612-874-9696 x 19 or [email protected]

ENGAGE
Youth and Young Adults for Civic Action

civ•ic (svk) ADJECTIVE: Of, relating to, or belonging to a city, a citizen, or citizenship; municipal or civil.

From the ashes of the Metropolitan Youth Council comes ENGAGE. ENGAGE has been designed to connect youth and young adults (15-24) with access to the resources they need to make both their local and the world community a better and safer place to live. ENGAGE creates opportunities for youth and young adults to make real change by directly connecting them with community leaders, policymakers, artists, activists, business owners, and most importantly other young people. Over a period of 12 month period the group of 6-10 youth will hold major planning sessions bi-monthly and carry out different civic actions throughout the year.

*Directly Impact Issues That Are REAL To You
*Receive Volunteer Hours and Elective Credit
*Participate in Conferences in Other Cities
*Visit Colleges and Neighborhood Organizations
*Attend Community Gatherings
*Receive Facilitative Leadership Training
*Speak on Panels
*Directly Connect with Community Leaders

For more info contact Toki @ 612-874-9696 x 17 or [email protected]

YO! Fellows Program
YO! The Movement is conducting an intensive training program for a special group of young people who are interested in making a difference. The purpose of the training program is to provide young people ages 13 to 20 with skills, opportunities and support necessary to empower themselves and other young people to make change in their communities, schools, and the world in which they live. The program will provide instructions in the following areas:

*Personal empowerment
*Developing leadership skills
*Understanding group dynamics
*Public policy
*Building coalitions
*Understanding Media Dynamics
*Mobilizing young people

YO! The Movement staff, public officials, youth advocates and other adult allies that are supporting youth driven community change will be conducting the training. YO! The Movement, a nonprofit youth membership organization, is hosting the training to further its mission of “providing young people (ages 13-20) with safe places, social support, education, economic opportunities and leadership to strengthen themselves and the communities in which they live.” YO! The Movement is driven by young people and is governed by its youth members through a board of directors of youth and adults. The staff at YO! The Movement will select a group of 15 individuals to participate in this important program. There is no coast to participants- all expenses will be covered by YO! The Movement and its contributors.

Following the training, participants will be invited to become YO! Fellows and become members of the Metro Youth Council. The Metro Youth Council is made up of YO! Fellows ready to make a change in their communities and become active members in the YO! The Movement. The Metro Youth Council also, receives stipends for outstanding work, attends community gatherings, focus groups and plans positive events geared towards young people.

If you or someone you know, between the ages of 13-20, would like to be involved in this exciting program - please complete the attached application and send it to, 219 South 4th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, Attention: YO! Fellows Training. Applications must be received by November 1st 2005 at 5:00 pm. Selected participants will be informed by November 4th 2005.

For more info contact Claire Redmond @ (612)874-YOYO (9696).