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The Ladysmith Youth Plan will be unfolded in three phases:
Phase One: Building the Foundations Sept - Dec 2017
Initiate inventory of existing youth programs and services, begin research on best practices for youth programs, baseline interviews with key staff and community members associated with youth programs, and orientation and planning with three community teams: Core+ Team, Advisory Team, and the Youth Research Team. Community and school consultation will begin after the teams determine their timelines.
Phase Two: Community Consultation & Organizing Data
The Youth Research Team will work with the Core Team (Core+ Team? to continue community engagement: at schools, Stz’uminus community, and various community service venues. We will align all questions and engagement processes to an “appreciative inquiry” orientation, meaning that we first work to discover what people recognize as working well, then extend the questions related to the ideal future. All data and information from each engagement will be posted on our website for participants’ review and feedback, then integrated with existing information.
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Phase Three: Finalizing the Plan
Consultants will work with the three primary teams on the development of a series of drafts for the final plan. Included will be a clear statement of vision, mission, guiding principles, supported by a comprehensive identification of specific actionable items with associated resources and timelines. The final draft will be published for final review/vetting by community stakeholders and then presented to the Mayor and Council of the Town of Ladysmith.
Youth will play a key role in all phases of the process, as members of the Core+ Team and the Research Team. Representing the diverse dimensions of Ladysmith youth, they act as a bridge between the Ladysmith Youth Plan teams and the broader youth population in the community.
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the LADYSMITH YOUTH PLAN
at-a-glance
Our primary goal in the 8 month planning process is to develop a compelling, innovative, and realistic youth strategy for Ladysmith that mixes the best practices and programs from the past with the most inspiring possibilities for the future. The plan will offer a clear roadmap with attention paid to the specifics of implementation. The process is also designed to build and strengthen the capacity and commitment of participating partners who will ultimately be responsible for making the plan a reality for Ladysmith youth.
The planning process began in September 2017 and builds on the current inventory of services and lines of communication with community stakeholders developed in the recently completed LS Master Plan process.