Creating an environment where young people thrive as advocates takes intention. Use these checklists to assess and strengthen your approach.
Environment checklist: Are you building an accessible atmosphere?
- Youth feel psychologically safe to share honest thoughts.
- Meetings and activities happen in youth-accessible locations (or online).
- The space includes youth-friendly language, visuals, and culture.
- Youth are represented in decision-making, not just invited to attend.
- There’s a code of respect and accountability for all participants.
- Power dynamics are acknowledged, and adults work to balance them.
- Lived experience is treated as valuable expertise.
- Opportunities are compensated (stipends, service hours, etc.).
Relational checklist: Are you creating strong connections?
- You build trust before tasks.
- You ask young people what matters to them and actually listen.
- You celebrate effort and growth, not just results.
- You provide consistent mentorship and feedback.
- You see the individual strengths of people and help set goals to build upon them.
- You acknowledge when you’ve made a mistake or overstepped.
- You check in on well-being, not just performance.
Program design checklist: Are you centering youth?
- Youth co-design programs and don’t just “participate.”
- Expectations are clear, flexible, and youth-informed.
- Feedback loops are built in, and youth shape the next version.
- Training is provided before asking youth to perform or present.
- You regularly consider: “Whose voice is missing?”
- You ask: “What systems need to change to sustain youth leadership?”
