YDAC 6-Week Email Details and Resources

YDAC 6-Week Email Details and Resources    

We are so excited that your students (or you if you are a student coming by yourself) will be learning more about how to advocate and use their voice with their legislators and other representatives and officials in just 6 weeks at YOUTH DAY AT THE CAPITOL.  (Your next email update will be at 3 weeks out, and include parking, local meal options, and more!) 

January 23 Email Topics:

1) PREPPING YOUR STUDENTS FOR YDAC

How are you planning to prepare?  What resources can we provide?  Do you need a letter to the school about students attending that day? (Non-school-based YDAC delegations)

Are you/will you be learning about your state reps and senators in class?
(Who are they?  How long have they been serving? How have they voted?)
Getting informed about Congressional Districts, State Senate and House Districts, and precincts
(the different layers of state and local government)?  What are some issues that lawmakers vote on?

What do YOU (the student) care about?  How does a person decide their position/opinion on any particular issue or topic?

2) SCHEDULE

                  a) By 8:45 a.m.: Register in the MN History Center Education Wing Lobby

                  b) 9-10 a.m. (approx): Session 1; Assigned to Advocacy Training or Auditorium Program

                  c) 10:10-11:10 a.m. (approx):  Session 2; Attend the other activity

                  d) 11:15 a.m. (approx):  All will gather before we step outside together.

                  e) 11:30 a.m. (approx): Walk as a group to the Capitol

                  f)  Upon arrival: group photo on the Capitol Steps

                  g) 12-3 p.m. (approx): Lunch; Legislator meetings; Rotunda activities, MN Legislative Hearing with MN Youth Council

                  h)  When you are done: Travel home!

3) Advocacy Resources

We have gathered a number of interesting and useful resources developed by outside groups, some of which might be helpful to you and your students.  Certain items or sites are clearly partisan or take positions; still, many of the advocacy tools and lessons are generally applicable.  As with all online resources, use or adapt what works for you, and please respect any copyrights.

The North American Council on Adoptable Children has resources on advocacy, meeting with legislators, and more.

https://nacac.org/help/be-a-youth-advocate/resources-on-youth-advocacy-or-support/

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The UNICEF Youth Advocacy Guide (PDF and online formats) includes definitions and types of advocacy, how to choose your issue(s), research, and planning information. (Both versions of the guide have their strengths!)

https://www.voicesofyouth.org/tools-resources/2022-unicef-youth-advocacy-guide-eng

https://www.voicesofyouth.org/youthadvocacy (updated- general)

https://advocacyaccelerator.org/resource/youth-advocacy-guide-unicef/ (African- for download)

https://www.voicesofyouth.org/tools-resources/unicef-youth-advocacy-guide-training-materials

www.unicef.org/media/73296/file/ADAP-Guidelines-for-Participation.pdf   UNICEF-specific, but with some great information

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Advocacy ‘warm-up exercises’ from Center for Disability Leadership   www.selfadvocacy.org/101-self-advocacy-basics/ 

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MENTOR program-specific resources, ideas, tools, teachings, recorded advocacy workshop, PowerPoint slides, tips

https://www.mentoring.org/resource/advocacy-resources/#Grassroots-Advocacy

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Nextvoice has an advocacy teaching tool that may be better for younger students (or may just present that way)

https://nextvoice.asa.org/engage/areas?onboarding=1

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Plan International Advocacy Toolkit ( 1 and 2; facilitator guide) https://plan-international.org/publications/advocacy-toolkit/

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United Nations Youth Rights Advocacy Toolkit www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2022-12/Youth-Rights-Advocacy-Toolkit.pdf

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Youth MOVE National in partnership with the Research and Training Center for Pathways to Positive Futures
A guide intended for young people who have chosen to utilize their lived experience as a mechanism to advocate for positive change
https://www.pathwaysrtc.pdx.edu/pdf/pb-Youth-Advocacy-Guide.pdf

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Healthy Gen Advocacy Guide https://healthygen.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Youth-Advocacy-Guide.pdf and Videos https://healthygen.org/projects/online-youth-advocacy-training/

4) PREPPING TO ATTEND

(Details in this, the 3-weeks-before, and 1-week-before emails)

These thinking questions below are both for our planning but also to help you prepare for the day in your own ways. We are always here to support, so please reach out to us at any time if you have any questions, concerns, or if you want to explore ideas for preparation.  

We are always looking to update the following, and maximize your students’ success at YDAC:

How many students?      Do you have more than enough adults?       
Special needs or accommodations?

Confirm (and maximize) timing for the day and for meeting legislators.    -Register in the History Center by 8:45, stay AT LEAST until 1:30 p.m., but later gives you a greater chance for legislator meetings.

Transportation/parking. (Parking details in 3-weeks-before email.)

DETAILS TO CHECK ON:

1) Arrange for transportation (permission, payment, etc.)

2) Permission slips, school or systems field trip forms, etc.

3) If using, request bag/box lunches from school food service.

4) IF YOUR NUMBER OF STUDENTS CHANGES OR IF YOU CAN NO LONGER ATTEND, let Michael know at Michael.Wall@state.mn.us.

5) Questions?  Need support? 
Michael.Wall@state.mn.us or 651-201-6892 
rbloome@mnyouth.net or 320-372-0318 

5) YDAC FUN FACTS: Questions to Get Young Activists Thinking

How many U.S. states have passed laws recognizing a certain group or assembly of young people as ‘the voice of youth’ to the state legislature and the Governor?

Choices to the right  >--------->---------->

 (SEE ANSWER BELOW)

ANSWERS

How many U.S. states have passed laws recognizing a certain group or assembly of young people as ‘the voice of youth’ to the state legislature and the Governor?

f.        All 50 (It’s a requirement.)

g.   All 50 (Each state did it on their own.)

h.   17

i.        1

j.         0 (It is illegal for anyone under voting age to have a position advising a legislature.)

RESOURCE   https://mnyouth.net/youth-voice-becomes-law-in-minnesota/
STATUTE:   www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/124D.957

YOUTH VOICE IS LAW

·         In 2013, the Minnesota Legislature formally recognized the work of the MYC, passing into law the Minnesota Youth Council Committee Bill, which establishes the group as the official voice for youth to provide advice and recommendations to the legislature and the governor on issues affecting youth and to serve as a liaison for youth around the state to the legislature and the governor.

·         Watch: How The Minnesota Youth Council Bill Became Law!

·         Minnesota Youth Council - A diverse network of 72 eighth through twelfth-graders and adult partners from each congressional district who collaboratively identify and address youth issues.

a.       All 50 (It’s a requirement.)

b.       All 50 (Each state did it on their own.)

c.       17

d.       1

e.       0 (It is illegal for anyone under voting age to have a position advising a legislature.)