St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau works to increase teen leadership

CANTON, N.Y. (WWTI) — Youth leadership can take many forms.

This concept was promoted at a training for St. Lawrence County professionals on March 19. The County’s Youth Bureau hosted Adam F.C. Fletcher, a writer, speaker and consultant focused on modern youth leadership.

“Research shows us that whenever a young person is engaged as a leader, they’ll be more effective in their own lives and making the decisions that make change for themselves,” Fletcher explained. “They’ll be more empowered in their communities and making changes that benefit the whole community.”

Although his focus is on youth involvement, his workshops are given to adults. Fletcher emphasized that adult leaders need to encourage youth and teens.

“It really isn’t a matter of do young people want to be engaged, it’s a matter of are adults ready to do that work that it takes to engage them,” he noted.

Fletcher started the training by asking participants to define youth leadership. Answers varied but covered a wide array of opportunities.

Fletcher urged the group not to limit young leaders.

“Youth have changed and because of that change, adults need to transform the way that we do things with young people,” he said. “So we’re training adults because they’re kind of that’s they will rock that steady beacon in every organization and community and family, frankly.”

Alexa Backus Chase is the director of the St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau, which has had a successful teen ambassador program in recent years.

Among other accomplishments, the bureau has led mental health trainings, presented ideas to local and state lawmakers and adopted active-duty military units.

Backus-Chase hopes her students can be an example for other local entities.

“We have an active youth committee and we have approximately 18 county teens serving as teen ambassadors for the Youth Bureau,” she said. “I felt that it’s very insightful to be able to hear directly from youth and teens as far as what they feel like the needs are within their friend group, their peer group, or within their local school district.”

As someone who works with these teens daily, she said the more adults can help youth reach leadership roles, the more they will stay out of trouble.

“Youth in the county want to feel that they are helping their local communities,” Backus-Chase expressed. “So by giving them opportunities to work with us youth-serving adults, I think it’s just a win-win opportunity for all of us.”

To learn more, visit the St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau’s website.

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