Troy's Community Newsletter

City To City - Seattle

Youth involvement is the focus this month in TUI's continuing series on what communities are doing to improve the quality of urban life.

Funded by grant programs that match community resources with city funds, a growing number of cities in the United States encourage youths to use their skills, talents, leadership and work abilities to help their neighborhoods.

The successful projects range from plantings in school and home window boxes to weekend Youth Confences geared toward ending violence and prejudice.

The city of Seattle Washington, offers a role model for youth involvement. To be eligible for a grant, projects must propose to physically improve the community or a school, or solve a problem or empower youth through organizing, education, or information. All such projects must be sponsored by a recognized adult-led organization, meet a completion deadline, and have a final report filed with the city.

The model programs included:

• A Youth Volunteer Corps which videotaped interviews with senior citizens to record their contributions to city life.
• Drama club productions aimed at discouraging drug use and violence.
• A Community Fair Day presenting information on community resources and providing wholesome entertainment.
• A mural painting day bringing various youth groups together to paint building exteriors.
• A Summer Youth Academy program which teamed youth leaders with students in need of remedial academic help.

Many cities work with schools and school/parent associations to foster youthful awareness of environmental concerns. Poster contests are encouraged, with student art-work directed toward anti-litter and spring clean-up projects.

As part of its CARES program (Cleanup And Revitalization Efforts), Tacoma Washington invites young people to join adults in Adopt-A-Spot work, Participants are asked to cleanup and maintain a selected area for at least two years. The sites are on streets, parks, fields, and playgrounds. The city provides materials, plantings, and refuse disposal. The citizens are rewarded by recognition signs at the site honoring the group of individuals responsible for the clean-up.

In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation
Items published herein do not necessarily represent the opinions of Troy United Ink Corp., its officers or it's Board of Directors.

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