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Youth Action Council

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The Polk County Youth Action Council (YAC) is a group of young leaders with lived experience in homelessness. YAC meets regularly to take action to improve housing services in Polk County. 

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Our work includes:

  • Youth Homelessness Program and System Improvement,

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  • Advocacy and Outreach through Public Speaking Opportunities,

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  • Volunteer Service Projects geared towards Youth and Families experiencing Homelessness,

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  • Skill Building through Creative Projects, and

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  • Building Connections among Youth experiencing Homelessness, Providers, and Services.

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YAC members present at the Prevent Child Abuse Iowa Conference

Cool activities we've done (so far):

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  • Created the Safe Spaces for LGBTQ Youth Document

  • Participate in the Legislative Day on the Hill

  • Present to Cornell University students

  • Present at the Iowa Prevent Child Abuse Conference and the Iowa Community Action SPARK! Conference

  • Present at the City of Des Moines Human Rights Symposium

  • Serve as a Youth Homelessness advisory group

  • Create and Distribute Youth Homeless Kits

  • Present to Grand View University students

  • Complete a collaborative service project with Indian Hills Junior High School

Youth Action Council meetings are a safe haven for all youth and free from discrimination. General YAC meetings are held monthly. Please contact Amy Croll with your name to learn when the Council meets.

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Individuals interested in YAC Leadership must complete and submit the attached application. Leadership meetings are held separately from general YAC meetings.

YAC Budget

YAC operates with a meager budget designed to provide financial compensation to young people who inform local services and supports in the metro.

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Group Norms

Interested in joining YAC? Take a look at our Group Norms first!

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  • Respect each other and the group

  • Participate and pay attention

  • Focus on task; side conversations need to be taken outside and no phones allowed.

  • Be on time

  • Everyone sits at the table.

  • Assume Positive Intent

  • Conversations are confidential and should remain free of politics, religion, and gender.

  • Respect boundaries

  • YAC is a safe space free of drug use and weapons.

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For the safety of everyone, all attendees are expected to follow these simple rules.

“YAC gave me the opportunity to tell my story and have people listen and relate.”
                 - current YAC member

 

QR Code for Donations

If you would like to help support YAC activities, please utilize our QR code below.

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Donation help support expenses like transportation costs, service project costs, and supply expenses.

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“YAC makes me feel seen and heard.”
           - current YAC member

YAC FAQs

Click the YAC FAQ for commonly asked questions. Coming Soon!!

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““YAC empowers youth for a better tomorrow.”
           - current YAC member

YAC Meeting Minutes

For safety reasons, this information is left vague, but is designed to give a general idea of the work that is done through YAC.

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August 2024 (Leadership)

September 2024 (Leadership)

September 2024 (General cancelled due to strategic planning)

October 2024 (Leadership)

October 2024 (City staff: encampment and encroachment ordinances)

November 2024 (Leadership meeting: Collaborative Art Project)

November 20, 4:00 PM: Homeward 5-Year Strategic Plan Focus Group

November 2024 (No General meeting. Leadership retreat)

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For more information or to obtain the Teams log-in to attend virtually, please contact Amy Croll.

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The Polk County Youth Action Council is supported by Homeward, but is its own separate decision-making entity, managed by its own leadership group.

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