“Empower Youth to find success by ensuring that services provided by the City of Cleveland to Youth are well-coordinated, comprehensive, and consistent.”

The Youth Council oversees the coordination of federal youth workforce programs, which include education, for young people at the local level. Through partnerships with the local school district, business and community partners, the Youth Council is piloting new ways that prepare youth for careers, while addressing local employment shortages and growing talent locally for current and future needs.

Understanding that basic education is a cornerstone to career success, work internships for older youth contain an educational component requiring students to spend equal time in an educational environment to strengthen basic reading, writing, and math skills. To help young people succeed academically and in work, innovative programs are funded that utilize mentors, tutorial programs and student portfolios.

Youth Council duties include:

• Developing the portion of the WIA local plan relating to youth
• Recommending to the local Board eligible providers of youth activities to be considered for grants or contracts on a competitive basis
• Conducting oversight with respect to eligible providers of youth activities
• Coordinating youth activities that are authorized by the Act, and
• Other duties determined to be appropriate by the Board

The Youth Council exercises leadership in five broad areas:

• To increase public awareness of important youth issues and to provide a forum for communities to consider the impact that all local policy-making has on the lives of youth.
• To identify duplication and gaps in services offered to area youth and to leverage funds and activities to maximize their impact
• To serve as a motivator and catalyst for agencies and communities to improve the efficiency and quality of youth services countywide
• To advocate for the development of a systemic approach that offers youth a broad range of coordinated services moving away from short-term and disconnected interventions
• To champion a Youth Development approach that focuses on the assets of youth, communicates high expectations, provides opportunities for leadership, encourages a sense of personal identity, and connects youth with caring adults.

 2004 City of Cleveland Youth Council

George Bilokonsky, Director of Youth Technology, Cuyahoga Community College
Dave Bonem, Assessment Specialist, Division of Treatment Services
Dana Capers, Vice President, Community Development Specialist,
The Huntington National Bank
Marcos Cortes, Assistant Director Children & Families, United Way Services
Lovell Custard, Director of Development, Murtis H. Taylor Multi-Service Center
Charisse Dawson, Caseworker Supervisor, City of Cleveland Youth Diversion Program
Craig Dorn, Vice President, Programs, Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Sharon Goode, Job Developer, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
Eric G. Howard, Advanced Career Training Counselor, Cleveland Job Corps
Ernest Johnson, Economic Development Administrator,
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
Catherine Lott, Parent Representative
Thomas Mathew, Probation Manager, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court
Marsha Mockabee, Director of Youth Development, Urban League of Greater Cleveland
Elizabeth Nekeloff, Cuyahoga County Department of Children & Family Services
Robin Poole, Vice President, Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland
Allan Phillips, Youth Representative
Adam Roth, Chief Operating Officer, West Side Ecumenical Ministry
Reuben Sheperd, Director, YO! Cleveland
Ramond Somich II, Director, Discover HELP, Inc.
James Woge, Human Service Program Consultant, Department of Youth Services

VISION STATEMENT

“To continue leadership in the development and support of superior initiatives that empower Youth in the City of Cleveland.