Youth Empowerment Committee
Youth Voice. Real Leadership. Lasting Change.
Mission
Our Committee of Ohio Youth will engage in active listening, teamwork, collaboration, education, and hands-on action in our communities. Embodying our core values, vision, and mission, we will passionately support all individuals affected by the juvenile justice system, cutting down stigmas and getting to the root of systemic problems.
Vision
We, the Juvenile Justice Coalition Youth Empowerment Committee, strive for advocacy, leadership, and voice for all youth, aiming to gain more understanding, empathy, and compassion, empowering youth affected by the Justice System, bringing about positive change.
WHAT WE DO
The Youth Empowerment Committee (YEC) brings together young leaders to shape programs, policies, and solutions that impact youth and communities. Through advocacy, leadership development, and collaboration, Youth Empowerment Committee ensures youth perspectives are not only heard — but acted on.
Big Ideas, Real Impact.
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Big Ideas, Real Impact. 〰️
About the Youth Empowerment Committee
A youth-led initiative dedicated to empowering young people to become active leaders, advocates, and changemakers within their communities. Our board creates space for youth to share lived experiences, develop leadership skills, and directly influence decisions that affect young people.
YEC members collaborate with community organizations, public systems, educators, and local leaders to address issues impacting youth, including education, mental health, juvenile justice, community safety, workforce development, and overall well-being.
Empowerment through Advocacy - Enable every youth to make a positive difference in their community.
Why Youth Voice Matters
Young people bring valuable insight, creativity, and lived experience that strengthen decision-making and improve outcomes. Too often, youth are impacted by systems and policies without being included in the conversation.
The Youth Advisory Board exists to change that.
By centering youth voice, we create more responsive programs, stronger communities, and opportunities for young people to lead meaningful change.
cORE VALUES OF y.E.C.
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As leaders youth share equal decision-making power with adults. They are not just consulted for feedback but actively design solutions, share lived experiences, review programs effectiveness, and assist in drafting actionable policies.
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Openness is the foundational environment of transparency, trust, and inclusivity. It means that adult allies are genuinely willing to listen to youth feedback, and that the board operates as a safe, judgement-free space where young people can freely express their ideas.
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Collaboration means youth and adults working as equal partners to solve problems, while inclusion ensures every young person—regardless of background, identity, or ability—feels safe, seen, heard, valued, and empowered to share their lived experience.
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Integrity is the moral compass. It means staying honest and transparent while advocating for peers, taking accountability for commitments, and ensuring that decisions are fair, unbiased, and genuinely represent the broader community’s needs.
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Determination is the relentless drive to advocate for youth perspectives at all levels, push through bureaucratic challenges, and hold organizations accountable to their commitments.
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Teamwork is the collaborative process of young people and adult allies working together to elevate youth voices, shape policies, and drive community change.
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Curiosity is the active pursuit of learning. It means asking "why" and "how," exploring new ideas without judgment, and seeking to understand the root causes of issues to build meaningful solutions.
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Support is providing the resources they need to put their ideas into action. Offering structural backing young people need to voice their perspectives, influence decisions, and collaborate with organizational leadership.
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Empathy is the "understanding" phase. It is the cognitive and emotional act of putting yourself in someone else's shoes to truly understand how they are experiencing the world without judgment. While compassion is the "action" phase. It takes empathy a step further by motivating youth to care deeply about someone's struggles and actively take steps to alleviate their hardship.
WHO CAN JOIN?
We welcome passionate young people who are interested in leadership, advocacy, community impact, and creating positive change within Juvenile Justice.