Beyond a Seat at the Table: Cultivating Authentic Youth Collaboration
We’re moving beyond symbolic “seats at the table” and onto building community for youth, with youth, and by youth.
Grounded in her lived experience, 16-year-old Taanvi shares how she has connected hundreds of thousands of teens nationwide to mental health resources — and what it actually takes to build trust, credibility, and sustained collaboration with young people.
Explore how to shift from adult-led decision-making to shared power, co-design programs with youth, and create environments where young people are valued as leaders and changemakers.
You’ll leave with practical strategies to build authentic partnerships that foster trust, open a dialogue, and embed youth voices into programs, policies, and organizational culture from the start.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Assess current youth engagement approaches within their programs to identify gaps between symbolic participation and authentic youth partnership.
- Apply strategies for engaging youth as partners in program planning and decision-making, including approaches for co-design and shared leadership.
- Develop communication and collaboration practices that foster trust, dialogue, and sustained youth participation in health promotion initiatives.