While many youth are not yet able to vote in the June 7th statewide primary election, they can still exercise civic empowerment through the channels that are available to them. Civic empowerment is a sense of agency to claim one’s own rights to engage in activities related to their community, school, city or town, and influence their environments. Youth can inform policies and programs that create the conditions for health and create lasting changes in their community. Get Healthy SMC has compiled two resources for young people to find civic leadership opportunities through boards and commission seats and youth advisory councils/committees. As noted above, the San Mateo County Youth Commission is currently accepting applications, and we encourage you to share this opportunity with young people in your network. 

To better understand the connection between youth civic empowerment and health, please check out this report on our website: http://www.gethealthysmc.org/youth-civic-empowerment-health