Prepare youth to make a difference in their community.
Provide youth the opportunity to influence decisions in the community.
Help youth develop confidence as well as skills needed to be successful in life.
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Overview
The Students Taking Active Roles, or STAR Leadership Training program was created to encourage youth to take active roles within the community. High School youth will participate in training focused on development of leadership skills, communication and team building skills, knowledge about civics and how to be more civically engaged as well as specific tools needed to serve on advisory boards or committees.
Youth in grades 9, 10, and 11 are invited to apply for the STAR Leadership Training.
It's Free! There are no costs to participate in this training - everything is included.
You may be eligible for academic credit for completing the Leadership Training!
Upon successfully completing the training, students will be placed on a committee/board as a full voting member (see Tracks for more info). Serving on these boards counts toward Community Service Hour requirements!
Each student will be matched with an Adult Partner who will provide technical assistance and support as the youth serves a one year term on a committee
Ongoing support and training will be provided for graduates throughout the year.
Tracks
For examples of the specific boards available within the tracks, please see the Partners section of the site.
Government
This track engages youth as equal partners in Sarasota County Government and two local city governments. Young people serve as full voting members on selected advisory boards to county or city commissioners.
Community Organizations
Youth serve as a board member for one of the many not-for-profit organizations in Sarasota County as well as committees organized for other community initiatives.
Sarasota County Law Enforcement Council
This track is designed to give teens a voice in law enforcement in Sarasota County. Youth will serve on an advisory board with the Sheriff and local chiefs of police to have an ongoing dialogue about issues important to teens in our community.
Sarasota County Education Council
Youth serve on a countywide advisory board that provides input to school district officials. In addition to serving as a source of information for the school district, this group will function as a task group to enact plans that address needs of youth within the schools.
Sarasota County Community Service Council
Youth serve on a council with adults from area service-oriented organizations to create opportunities for the youth of Sarasota County to participate in community service. This group will work with local government and non-profit agencies to identify and create various projects across Sarasota County to address the needs of our community.
CYD Teen Activity Board
Youth serving in this track work with local non-profit agencies to create fun events that meet the needs of teens in their specific geographic communities.
STAR is very "hands on" - activities are used throughout the training to teach the skills needed.
Special events include Lunch with a Leader - meet local leaders who want to hear from you!
Trips to Sarasota County Government and the School Board to meet with elected officials and learn how these systems work.
Training Overview
Youth participants will complete 60 hours of training in:
Civic engagement - it's more than voting!
Introduction to the organizational structure of city and county government
History of Sarasota County
Community assessment-needs and resources
Trusteeship-Knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of members of a board of directors
Understanding the purpose and function of not-for-profit agencies in our community
Parliamentary Procedure
Skill Development
Leadership
Group dynamics
Communication skills
Goal setting
Decision making
Problem solving skills
Project planning
Training Staff
The STAR training is conducted by staff and student trainers (youth who have completed the training and received additional training in facilitation skills). Community leaders are brought in to lead a variety of pieces such as Roberts Rules of Order, understanding local government or the role of a not-for-profit board. Often times, these are current or former elected officials (Supervisor of Elections, former city commissioner, current chair of the Board of County Commissioners, etc).
Adult Training
A key to the success of the Civic Engagement Initiative in Sarasota County is the STAR Maker workshop offered by CYD for adults who will be interacting with youth on committees. This training is designed to prepare agencies, organizations and government committees to empower youth as a resource. Topics covered in this training include Basic Youth Development, Cultural Assumptions, Engaging Youth as Resources, Civic Engagement Strategies, and Organizational Readiness.
A 2-hour overview is offered and recommended for the agency's executive director and board chair to provide an understanding of the concepts of utilizing youth as a resource and Civic Engagement.
Each organization interested in having a youth from the STAR Leadership Training serve in their decision making structure must agree to maintain a trained staff or board member that will serve as an advisor to the student. We have found that this training ensures that the youth is fully engaged and successful in their service to the organization.
