Baton Rouge, La. — February 17, 2022 — Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced a collaboration between the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC), Baton Rouge Alliance for Students, and Safe, Hopeful Healthy BR to form the Baton Rouge Youth Voice Initiative. 

The Baton Rouge Youth Voice Initiative seeks to identify the highest areas of need for students within the community; elevate the voice of students in K-12 education policy; and develop a pipeline for engagement at all levels within the City-Parish government and local government agencies. 

“This collaboration is a major stepping stone in elevating and empowering youth in our community — The Youth Voice Initiative will allow our students to share their stories, their needs, and goals, allowing them to advocate for themselves and their peers,” said Mayor Broome. “Our students are in our schools every day, and they can provide valuable insight on what we as leaders can do to strengthen their futures.”

The Baton Rouge Alliance for Students will engage consultants guided by national best practices to conduct a comprehensive listening series resulting in the production of a student-driven report on education in East Baton Rouge Parish. 

“In creating a future for EBR's youth in which they achieve the lives they deserve and desire, amplifying their experiences must be at the forefront of system-design, " said Adonica Pelichet Duggan, CEO of Baton Rouge Alliance for Students. "We believe an excellent education is every child's birthright, and that understanding the experience of young people is a key way to assess how our community is faring in delivering that birthright."

This partnership will engage students from the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council as social media ambassadors, focus group participants and youth liaisons. Students will participate in a listening series, conduct peer interviews and take part in focus groups. The project management team will gather survey data and produce a report as well as capture and document the process through a series of collateral materials including but not limited to video stories, podcast appearances, earned-media and social media campaigns.

All East Baton Rouge Parish students are encouraged to participate in the Youth Voice Initiative. For more information about The Baton Rouge Youth Voice Initiative or to take the survey online, parents and students can visit www.batonrougestudents.org.