Youth committee lacks youth

Editor:

It seems odd that the Clearview Youth Services Committee will guide the township on a new youth centre and youth services without any youth on the committee.

After more than 25 years working with youth, I still see this as the biggest mistake organizations make when trying to engage youth. They exclude them from the start creating an us-versus-them dynamic. Some well-meaning groups overcome this, but what a wasted opportunity. Youth bring connectedness, dynamism, openness, curiosity, inventiveness and even playfulness to committees (and communities in general). They also bring critical youth experience to the table. Experience comes in many forms not just tenure.

Adding one youth member would just be tokenism, but adding two or more youth members to the committee would ensure its authenticity and future success.

Robert Barnard,

Creemore.