By Randi Kay Stephens, Associate Program Manager, Institute for Local Government
Each fall, students head back to school to gain new skills and make lifelong memories. The
Institute for Local Government (ILG) wants to make sure that local government is one of those fond and distinct memories that last a lifetime.
ILG has developed resources to help your district engage with the next generation of community members and the future of our public sector workforce. Our resources include civic engagement materials as well as examples of how to organize short-term work experience or job shadowing opportunities to help young people learn about the wide range of careers in your district.
Civic Engagement
ILG’s recently revised “Picture Yourself in Local Government” (PYLG) curriculum is now available for schools and local agencies (
www.ca-ilg.org/pylg). The latest update includes interactive activities to help high school students learn about the role of local government, as well as the variety of people responsible for maintaining our many essential public services and administration and governance of our cities, counties, and special districts.
Why does this matter to your district? PYLG curriculum can be used for:
- information packets for student tours of government offices
- new staff orientations
- preparing staff to speak about local government in a classroom, and /or
- educating boards, commissions, and leadership academies about local government structure and functions
PYLG Generates Excitement for Local Government Careers
PYLG was first developed in 1994 as a unique student guide to learn about local government. The new version of PYLG aligns with California Department of Education’s recently revised History-Social Sciences Framework.
'Planting the seeds of local government interest takes time,' says Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Mary Anne Rooney. 'The Oxnard Harbor District takes great pride in educating our local youth on the services we provide, how we provide them, and how young people can participate in our community.'
PYLG is available for your district to use free of charge. Staff, educators and the public can use the curriculum to explore the nuances of local government’s history, structure, players, services and finances. The curriculum also emphasizes the variety of ways youth and adults can actively participate in local government through the policy-making process or by working in an agency to implement programs and services. PYLG’s design encourages critical thinking and helps participants engage in meaningful discussion about topics such as:
- how local government can make life better for people
- local government leadership structures
- how citizens can enact change
- how local government meets community needs
- how programs and services are funded
Many adults currently serving in local government wish they had learned about essential services, administration, and governance earlier in their civic journey and professional careers. If your district would like to ensure the next generation has an opportunity to learn about local government before they enter the workplace, download the updated materials at
www.ca-ilg.org/pylg.
Governments Engaging Youth Toolkit
It is never too early to talk to youth about career opportunities. The number of local and state government employees retiring means a new cohort of public employees need to take the helm. Educating the next generation about the variety of careers available in the public sector is crucial to ensure that qualified public servants are ready to work in local government. Additionally, with dismally low voting records and lack of awareness about local government functions, it is important that special districts (as well as cities, counties, and school districts) look at educating younger constituents about the roles and responsibilities of different agencies. Young people have the world in front of them, and unless they are introduced to the essential services provided by local government, and the many interesting and fulfilling career options, local government will not be part of their job search.
What is work-based learning?
Work-based learning is a spectrum of opportunities provided to young people so that they may:
- Become aware of career possibilities through tours, site visits, guest speakers, etc.
- Explore opportunities via informational interviews, job shadows, and internships.
- Train for specific careers through apprenticeships, on-the-job training, or work experience.
To increase civic engagement, the awareness of local government careers and the pathways to enter public service, ILG created the Governments Engaging Youth Toolkit (www.ca-ilg.org/GEYToolkit). The toolkit helps guide local government staff through the process of starting or scaling an effort that connects youth to government. Additionally, the toolkit provides materials and resources for agencies to successfully engage young people in civic and work-based learning experiences. The GEY Toolkit includes:
- A Readiness Assessment to Start or Scale a Program,
- Municipal-School Partnership Resources (sample agreements and more),
- Infrastructure for Successful Programs (logistics, recruitment, staffing, etc.),
- Program Content Development (competency-based program planning),
- Youth Development and Engagement Resources, and
- Local government examples.
Through both summer and in-school experiences, special district staff can raise awareness of local government careers and how students can actively participate in their community. With ILG’s resources, special districts can start building, or scaling, partnerships and engage with their community’s young people. Working together, local government leaders and education institutions can collaborate to plant the seeds of lifelong interest in local government.
Resources