Youth Asset Summits

Since 2007, the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development has facilitated "Youth Asset Summits" within intermediate school districts that participate in the Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey. In the summits, teams of middle and high school students gather to review results of the survey. They are then taken through a process in which they determine which of the 40 Developmental Assets they consider to be the greatest strengths of their community and which assets are of greatest concern and therefore most urgent for the community to address. The students then work on a plan of action to address those "priority" assets in their schools and communities.

Youth Summits Teach Students about Assets

This fall, two Youth Summits were held. Teams of middle and high school students gathered to review results of the Youth Asset survey. The students were taken through a process in which they determined which of the 40 Developmental Assets they considered to be the greatest strengths of their community and which assets were of greatest concern and therefore most urgent for the community to address. The students then worked on plans of action to address those priority assets in their schools and communities.

In October, GLCYD hosted and facilitated the Marquette Alger Youth Summit. Teams from Bothwell Middle School, Burt Township School, Gwinn High School, Ishpeming Schools, Munising High School, Republic-Michigamme Schools, and Westwood High School gathered at the Peter White Public Library to determine which priorities they should address. The Assets selected were #2 Positive Family Communication, #18 Youth Programs, #27 Equality and Social Justice, #31 Restraint, and #38 Self Esteem. Each school created plans of action with activities such as holding awareness weeks, creating after school drama and art clubs, holding assemblies, creating murals, hosting community presentations, and producing public service announcements for the local TV stations. Students are now working with their adult leaders, school officials, and community members to implement these asset building programs.

In November, our staff helped facilitate the Dickinson and Iron Counties Youth Summit.  This Summit was a collaborative effort between the Dickinson-Iron ISD, the Dickinson-Iron Health Department, the Kiwanis Club of Iron Mountain-Kingsford, Northpointe Behavioral Health and Center staff.  Staff presented on what the assets are and how students can help to build assets in their peers.  GLCYD VISTA staff members are working with the Dickinson-Iron youth on developing and implementing their plans.

To see survey results for nine of the 15 Upper Peninsula counties, visit www.soyreport.org.  Additional photos from the summit can be found at www.facebook.com/glcyd.

2011 Youth Leadership Seminars

Youth Leadership Seminars, similar to Youth Asset Summits, were held during February in two school districts where Great Lakes Center for Youth Development has AmeriCorps VISTAs working with students to address assets through service. Students from Sault Area High School, Middle School and Malcolm High School gathered at Lake Superior State University where they determined their priorities to be "Restraint," "School Engagement" and "Sense of Purpose." Students at LsSalle High School in St. Ignace determined they would work on "Restraint," "School Engagement" and "Positive Family Communication." Students are currently working on service projects that address those priority assets.

2010 Gogebic-Ontonagon Youth Asset Summit

- Youth Priorities 2010-11

- Youth Summit Story by Louis Bonagura

2009 Marquette/Alger Youth Asset Summit

- Youth Priorities 2010-11

2008 Eastern U.P. Youth Asset Summit

- Chippewa & Mackinac Youth Priorities

- Luce Youth Priorities

News Release (September 26, 2008) - Eastern Upper Peninsula Youth Set Their Own Community Priorities

2007 Marquette/Alger Youth Asset Summit

- Youth Priorities 08-09

- Mining Journal Article about Youth Summit