Let the voice of youth ring out!

What is a Speakers' Bureau? At first glance, it's a cadre of committed and articulate youth able to make strong and effective presentations to business, governmental, school and other community groups. A deeper look reveals that it's a tool for building intergenerational bridges of understanding, respect, and trust... with many other benefits.

Imagine young people engaging audiences in your community in discussions about how to:

• Increase the role of youth in a community
• Build strong and effective youth-adult partnerships to address community issues
• Improve safety, in schools and in the community
• Build a broad base of support for community crime prevention efforts
• Promote service and service learning opportunities
• Increase understanding of the Developmental Assets Framework, and build community-wide commitment to positive youth development; o reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Why a Youth Speakers' Bureau?

Young people are vital to a community and can make a significant difference. But all too often they are underutilized, and seen as problems and clients, as opposed to resources and contributors.

A Speakers' Bureau:

• Shifts these negative perceptions
• Increases opportunities for young people to serve
• Showcases youth as a powerful force for community problem solving

Benefits of a Speakers' Bureau

Young people gain confidence and valuable life skills in such areas as:

• Public speaking
• Presenting
• Writing
• Organizing
• Researching
• Project planning
• Working in teams

The agency or program sponsoring the Speakers Bureau gets increased visibility and a broader base of community support.

The community gains awareness of the contributions young people can make, and are making, to the well-being of the community.

Youth-adult relationships are strengthened, increasing intergenerational understanding, respect and trust, and the ability to work together to solve problems.

How We Can Help:

Community Matters provides comprehensive training and technical assistance to help communities create Speakers' Bureaus. Trainings typically include:

• Structure and function of a Speakers' Bureau
• Developing the "talking points" and materials for presentations
• Mapping and profiling key community organizations and groups
• Skill development - practice and coaching
• Identifying the variety of roles/tasks -- speaker, equipment, contact, etc.
• Sources of funding and public relations support
• Building a sustainable infrastructure

Technical assistance is provided to help gain support of key school and community decision makers, recruit and select the 'right' group of people to attend the training (e.g. a diverse group of youth, including those not typically engaged in traditional activities), and secure initial start-up funds. For more information, contact us.