Community organizations play a vital role in the life of Toronto. Everyday, all over the city, a wide array of community groups make Toronto a better place to live, work and play. They deliver social services, direct housing co-ops and condominiums, offer cultural, educational and recreational programs, and advocate on behalf of business and neighbourhood concerns. Some are small groups with limited mandates; others are large agencies providing a complex mix of programs and services.

Community organizations are the cornerstones of local democracy. They are guided by boards of directors, advisory groups or councils made up of individuals who have taken on the responsibility for decision-making. To be successful these organizations must reflect the needs and views of their members, users and stakeholders — the strength of their decision-making lies in their ability to be representative and inclusive.

There is one population group, however, that is too often ignored or overlooked when it comes to decision-making. There are more than 300,000 young people between ages 15 and 24 living in Toronto — more than 12 per cent of the city's population. Yet relatively few community organizations include youth in their decision-making processes. Youth are a huge untapped resource. They bring energy, ideas and a whole new perspective that can enrich the decision-making of any organization. Involving youth pays big dividends for young people, the organizations that invite them to the table and for the community as a whole. Youth engagement leads to youth development and youth development contributes to the health of vibrant and inclusive communities.

As part of its commitment to public engagement, the City of Toronto has been listening to young people. The Toronto Youth Cabinet was created in 1998 as the voice of youth at City Hall. Over the past 18 months, the City has sponsored a series of focus groups, town hall sessions and a youth safety survey to ask hundreds of young people across the city about their concerns and ideas for creating healthy communities. The consistent message expressed throughout these forums is that young people want to be heard and they want to participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives and the communities in which they live.

There may be many reasons why community organizations have not yet engaged youth in decision-making. Some are based on misconceptions or an uncertainty about how to bridge communication and generation gaps. Sometimes young people are viewed as being apathetic or problematic. There are, however, many success stories about young people who have made significant contributions to their communities and about organizations that have successfully invited youth to their decision-making tables.

The City has launched a citywide campaign to increase the number of young people participating in leadership roles in community organizations. Groups across the city are being encouraged to extend a warm and genuine invitation to young people in their community to become involved in decision-making.

This guide describes important benefits that such participation can bring — to organizations, young people and communities. It also offers ideas about how organizations can successfully extend the invitation and create a respectful and hospitable environment within which youth can participate.

The advice and assistance of the Laidlaw Foundation in developing this guide is gratefully acknowledged.