KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The City of Kalamazoo will host an all-day “Imagine Your Neighborhood” Youth Engagement Summit this Saturday, August 20.
City officials say the event will create a space for young leaders to share their vision for Kalamazoo and plan projects based on their ideas and passions.
The Youth Summit will be held from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine building at 300 Portage Street. It is intended for youth between the ages of 14 and 22 that live in the City of Kalamazoo. Interested youth can register online here.
At the Summit, youth will participate in discussions and activities to come up with a plan for their neighborhood. Results from the Youth Summit will add a youth perspective to neighborhood plans that are currently being created in the Stuart, West Main Hill, Westwood, and Westnedge Hill neighborhoods.
For neighborhoods with approved plans, youth input will be shared with neighborhood associations, and youth in these neighborhoods may also be connected to existing projects. Youth that participate in the summit will also be connected to their neighborhood associations to stay engaged with upcoming events and projects in their neighborhood.
“As we invest in our youth to empower them to be successful as adults, we also want them to know their voices are important and can make a difference right now,” explained Jae Slaby, Neighborhood Activator for the City of Kalamazoo. “The Youth Summit is a great opportunity to develop leadership skills and have a positive impact in our community.”
The “Imagine Your Neighborhood” Youth Summit is a new event, but is expected to become an annual opportunity for youth in Kalamazoo.
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