Vilsack, Pederson Announce First Governor's Policy Forum on Youth Civic Engagement

Vilsack, Pederson Announce First Governor's Policy Forum on Youth Civic Engagement

Conference to focus on getting kids involved in their communities

DES MOINES - Governor Tom Vilsack and Lt. Governor Sally Pederson announced today details regarding the first Governor's Policy Forum for Youth Civic Engagement.

The forum will reach out to policymakers in order to engage Iowa's youth locally and at the state level to improve and positively shape Iowa communities. Through interactive discussions and illustrative examples, forum participants will learn what has been successful in the past, as well as how youth civic engagement can change the landscape of communities in Iowa.

Governor Vilsack said, "Iowa is a great place to live, work and raise a family because Iowans continually give back to their communities. Our future prosperity rests on passing on this tradition to the next generation. This forum will help to guarantee that Iowa's young people learn how important it is to contribute to their communities."

The Youth Civic Engagement Policy Forum is sponsored by the Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development, an interagency group that focuses on improving and aligning youth policies and programs. The Collaboration seeks to promote the use of positive youth development principles in state and local policies and facilitate the use of effective youth development practices in communities across Iowa.

http://www.governor.state.ia.us/news/2006/october/october0606_2.html