The place where Saint Paul Youth: Stand Up… Speak Up… LEAD!

The Saint Paul Second Shift Youth Commission is the place for young people in Saint Paul to have a voice at City Hall! Youth Commissioners practice youth adult partnership with other Saint Paul youth, city officials, and community organizations to solve community issues and make Saint Paul the most livable city in America.  Youth Commissioners do this by leading community action projects.  The Youth Commission is made up of 22 youth from neighborhoods across Saint Paul.


Youth Commissioners:

• Tackle serious issues that Saint Paul youth face! They design innovative solutions and work with youth and adults to make the solutions happen
• Help ensure that all youth in Saint Paul have places to get involved, learn, play and make a difference in their community
• Impact citywide policies and meet government representatives
• Strengthen their leadership skills and ensure strong youth voice in Saint Paul!

Young people are leaders today. If you want to make a difference, you better be at the table – join us now and see what we can do by working together!


Past Youth Commission projects include:

• Opening the Canvas at Hancock Recreation Center. The Canvas is the city's only Arts-based Teen Center and is run by teens, for teens!
• Opening the Doorway, a college access and resource center at Sunray Library and Dayton's Bluff Recreation Center
• Informing Saint Paul youth and families about environmentally friendly cleaning supplies
• Leading a community mapping project in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood
• Advocating at the state legislature for circulator buses, transportation so youth can get to after-school and summer activities. 

The Youth Commission has 22 citywide members. There is at least one position reserved for youth in each Saint Paul neighborhood and 5 at-large positions. Each May, the Youth Commission recruits new members. Applications are due June 16^th and interviews are held in July. Newly selected commissions start each August by attending the annual Saint Paul Second Shift Youth Commission Orientation.

To be a part of the city-wide youth commission you must:

• Live in the City of Saint Paul
• Be in 9th - 12th grade while serving on the commission
• Commit 6-10 hours a month and be able to meet on Monday nights
• Have the desire to make Saint Paul the best city to grow up in!

Application can be found here! 


What if you’re not in 9th-12th grade?

Don’t worry; you can still participate in the Youth Commission's work! Any young person in 7th-12th grade can join a Youth Commission Subcommittee. Subcommittee members can participate fully in community action projects but are not voting members of the city-wide youth commission.

Youth Commission Year in Review

The Year in Review gives a look at all the projects and accomplishments of the Youth Commission.  Check them out!

2008-2009 Year in Review
2007-2008 Year in Review
2006-2007 Year in Review