Youth Participation

Some of the youth in our community cannot afford to participate in youth sports and other community activities. While scholarship programs are available through some youth organizations, many still have fewer lower income participants than would be expected based on community population characteristics. It is not enough merely to passively accommodate minority and low income youth participation. To increase the level of participation on the part of lower income youth and the minorities:

• Youth oriented organizations should make a deliberate, proactive effort to involve lower income and minority youth in their programs. Such efforts should include waiving fess, assisting with the purchase of equipment, providing assistance with transportation when necessary, and active recruitment efforts. 
• Youth oriented organizations should also make an effort to attract minority adult leaders to their boards and youth contact positions
• Public entities should establish as a condition for the use of public facilities (meeting rooms, sports fields, and gymnasiums) that the organization using the facility has established efforts to increase participation among low income and minority youth.