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Students gather for youth summit
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Using the data, the students determined what they consider strengths, and what they consider areas for concern, and began a process of brainstorming ways to strengthen their communities by setting priorities for the next two years.
The survey data quantifies the 40 Developmental Assets. The asset framework was developed by the Search Institute SM. Research has clearly shown that the more of these assets a young person possesses, the more likely they are to grow to be caring competent adults and the less likely they are to engage in risky behaviors.
Youth Summit participants identified three assets they felt were strengths of Marquette and Alger counties. These were “Safety,” “Family Support” and “Positive View of Personal Future.”
“What this means for the community is that young people in Marquette and Alger counties agree that they feel loved and protected,” said Linda Remsburg, GLCYD youth development associate. “They also feel that they have what they need in this community to have a great future in front of them. This is really good news.”
The three assets identified as areas of concern were “Restraint,” “Adult Role Models” and “Planning and Decision Making.”
“The fact that the attendees chose these three assets as things they specifically want to improve is fascinating,” said Paul Olson, also a GLCYD youth development associate. “This shows that young people have an intense desire to learn more about how to be mature, capable citizens of the community. Their message couldn’t be clearer. They’re saying, ‘We want to learn to be more mature and we want adults to walk the talk.’”
The planning committee for the Youth Summit will meet again to formulate an action plan for Marquette and Alger counties based on the ideas of students at the summit
For more information about the 40 Developmental Assets in the Upper Peninsula, visit www.soyreport.org or call GLCYD at 228-8919.
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