Spotlight: Brattleboro Area Youth Council is seeking new members (ages 11 to 21).

The youth council advocates for their peers and collaborates with community decision-makers to address the needs of youth.

Areas of focus of the council include:

* Shared power in schools
* Brattleboro community safety
* Career shadowing

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We want to hear from you!

Click below to share your concerns and ideas with the Youth Council

Alex Aither
Connor Noyes-Urffer
Desma Lalanne
Elise Denaples-Hiler
Jamel Smith
Jaya Lalanne
Leo Storm

Lizzie Elkins
Madison McKinley
Maeve Bald
Mariam Diallo
Miguel Soto
Remy Flood
Talia Rosinski

BAPC Presents…

Brattleboro Area Youth Council

Brattleboro Area Youth Council advocates for their peers and collaborates with community decision-makers to address the needs of youth.

Shared Power

Student Voice in Schools

Community Safety

Career Shadowing

Assessment and Opportunities

 

About Us

Brattleboro Area Youth Council advocates for their peers and collaborates with community decision-makers to address the needs of youth.

Guiding Principles – Youth Council

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What we pay attention to grows…

…always shift to the positive

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Focus on what we long for…

…our task is to cultivate solutions together

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Each of us are potential...

…cultural, economic and environmental innovators.

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The way we run our Council...

…is the way we want our State and Country to run

Our History -Quality Youth Development

QYD stands for “Quality Youth Development,” which is defined as “substantive, measurable, and sustainable community actions that support, engage, inspire, and empower youth.” Click here for a PDF file with more details on the background of the project. For more information about the national QYD project, go to The QYD Project™ website.
 

“You can also see how you’re impacting others, and how it sometimes makes their day and they smile. And, they light up when you tell them that their business has been chosen or that they have made an impact on the community.”

MAEVE BALD

QYD YOUTH MEMBER AND 8TH-GRADE STUDENT

Benchmarks

In September, Brattleboro became the 3rd community in the nation to be certified as a Quality Youth Development (QYD) Community™. A steering committee, made up of mostly local youth, spearheaded this project in order to improve their community and to make it more accessible and welcoming for kids and teens of all backgrounds.

Unity

A community needs to meet 7 out of 10 benchmarks in order to receive the QYD Community certification, which is based on a community’s commitment to its youth. One of the benchmarks asks local businesses to value their young customers by displaying a “Youth Are Welcome!” poster in a prominent location.

 

YOUTH-FRIENDLY BUSINESS

Know a business that is youth-friendly? Let us know by clicking the button:

Youth Council Business Criteria

The youth council members developed the following criteria for a youth-friendly business:

  • Doesn’t sell or promote products geared solely towards adults (such as alcohol or tobacco/vape products). Exemptions are food markets and restaurants

  • Is an inclusive and welcoming place towards young people from all backgrounds

  • Is a place where it’s not necessary for minors to be accompanied by an adult to enter the store

  • Has friendly staff that youth feel comfortable talking to

  • Is a place they would want to spend their time and money

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Youth-certified Businesses

The youth have chosen approximately 20 businesses (which is not exhaustive) and will be providing them with “Youth are Welcome” signs created by our QYD Steering Committee youth members.

Ace/Brown & Roberts Hardware

Beadniks

Boys & Girls (The Club) of Brattleboro

Brattleboro Books

Brattleboro Boys and Girls Club

Brattleboro Food Co-Op

Brattleboro Historical Society

Brattleboro Museum and Art Center

Brattleboro Recreation Center

Brattleboro School of Dance

Brooks Memorial Library

Burrows Specialized Sports

Elliot St. Fish and Chips

Experienced Goods Thrift Shop

Galanes Vermont Shop

Insight Photography

The Latchis Theatre

Mocha Joe’s

New England Center for Circus Arts

Three Ring Traveling Apothecary

Twice Upon a Time

The Works

Yalla Vermont

Youth Services

Zephyr Designs