Leading the voice of our next generation.
Strathco Next Gen is a BGC led initiative driven to motivate and support the youth and young adults of Strathcona County by providing them with a platform to lead and inspire change, to connect and build, and to shape the future of their community.
NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US
Youth and young adults deserve to benefit and speak about their community just as much as any other citizen of Strathcona County. NextGen focuses on promoting and providing these opportunities for youth and young adults to :
- create spaces and events where the true focus is them
- advocate on important topics in Strathcona County
- promote the youth and young adult lens on large scale platforms
About NextGen
“Wait, what exactly is it that NextGen does?”
In the simplest terms, we do a bit of everything.
Our group both serves and is led by the youth and young adults of Strathcona County. This means that whatever they want to see, we want to do.
We host and participate in community events, advocate for the youth and young adult voice, contribute to local initiatives, collect and maintain an assortment of resources, and work towards a future-friendly Strathcona County to name a few things.
What we do is always expanding and always changing but, no matter what, we’re always here for youth and young adults.
The Leadership Team
Where all the action happens!
As part of the Next Gen leadership team you will help plan events and initiatives, lead and have a voice in your community, mobilize change, and shape the future of Strathcona County.
Consider Joining the Next Gen Leadership team if…
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You identify as a youth and/or young adult.
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You are passionate about leading and creating change in Strathcona County to support Next Gen
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You want to develop leadership skills, build relationships and a network, and have fun!
If you don’t identify as a youth, young adult, and/or don’t live in Strathcona County, you still might be able to get involved! Strathcona County Next Gen focuses its efforts, resources, and initiatives on Strathcona County but we welcome help from nearby communities and local organizations.
Positions, Roles and Responsibilities
Youth and young adults are the leaders here! You will be helping to determine the exact roles and positions that will make up the Next Gen leadership team. Roles can be created based on your strengths, interests and areas you want to build skills in and based on conversations with you about what roles you think are needed to create the action you want to see in the community.
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We anticipate an approximately once-a-month meeting commitment.
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We anticipate that there will be opportunities to volunteer to contribute additional time to help plan specific events, initiatives, etc.
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We’re a group that’s always evolving so don’t expect to be doing the same thing everyday.
We host and participate in community events, advocate for the youth and young adult voice, contribute to local initiatives, collect and maintain an assortment of resources, and work towards a future-friendly Strathcona County to name a few things.
What we do is always expanding and always changing but, no matter what, we’re always here for youth and young adults.
History of NextGen
Our story…
Strathcona County Next Gen is an initiative brought through collaboration between community partners to motivate and support the youth and young adults in Strathcona County by providing them with a platform to lead and inspire change, to connect and build, and to shape the future of their community.
2019
Strathcona County commissioned a consulting firm to conduct a Youth Needs and Assests Assessment (YNAA). The YNAA explored existing opportunities for youth and young adults in the County between the ages of 14-29 while identifying areas for improvement.
The overarching recommendation was to create a community-led collaborative youth strategy to guide the implementation of recommendations that would include youth and young adult representation.
2020
Youth-serving organizations within the community were invited to participate on the Youth Strategy Steering Committee.
To adhere to the principle of “nothing about us without us,” the Next Gen initiative was established as a means to engage self-identified youth and young adults to help create the change they want to see in Strathcona County.
Today…
We actively advocate for more representation from youth and young adults in local organizations, host and participate in events to bring together the corners of the County, and connect youth to resources and opportunities within and around Strathcona County.
The Leadership Team is really where you get to make the decisions on what NextGen does, and where a youth or young person’s voice is heard. Get in touch with us here to learn about what the Leadership Team could look like for you.
Strathcona County Next Gen hosts a variety of events, gatherings, activities, and a bunch of other stuff all throughout the year. Since we’re an organization fueled by volunteers, we frequently look for help in running these events, spreading awareness, and gathering resources. If you’re interested in volunteering with Next Gen, you can find any open volunteer postings on our opportunities page or by clicking the button above.
We are always interested in more resources, opportunities, and information for Strathcona County youth and young adults, as well as any ideas or support for our engagement, events, and initiatives.
Please note that Strathcona County Next Gen primarily serves Strathcona County. While we do accept help from organizations outside of Strathcona County, our efforts and initiatives are focused within the county.