Heart & Soul Handbook: Engaging Youth

Resource Description

Engaging youth in a community planning project can be challenging, but it can also provide numerous benefits by opening the discussion to completely different perspectives, and getting the opinions of future inhabitants. This chapter, Engaging Youth in Heart & Soul Community Planning, outlines the various contributions young people can bring to the table. By providing a youth friendly environment, attracting and sustainaing participation, and creating activites that engage youth, a community can take advantage of all the benefits a youth voice has to offer. This chapter provides many ideas and tools for involving youth in the planning process including specific games, activities, and past projects that have been successful in Heart & Soul communities.  

In 2008, the Orton Family Foundation pioneered Heart & Soul Community Planning, a process that has so far been piloted in selected communities in New England and the Rocky Mountains. The Foundation is currently in the process of developing a H&S Handbook that describes the entire process, first explaining the reasoning behind Heart & Soul Community Planning, then walking through the steps to achieve an inclusive, enduring, long-term community plan. With detailed descriptions of new tools and methods and examples from on the ground, this handbook is a resource for planners and citizens alike.