What are good examples of impactful projects?Projects can be as diverse as our 400+ communities across North Dakota, and can be achieved with little adult oversight. It may help to think of projects that fill a community need and make a noticeable addition to a community’s downtown core, with a focus on sustainability.

Types of projects or activities: • Infill – Clean up or activate space in a downtown core that is

not being utilized

Examples: Pocket parks, removal of buildings or materials not salvageable

• Arts – Use the arts to improve appeal

Examples: Entertainment at farmers markets, creating public art

• History – Maintain a historic building or interpret history in a way that is relevant to youth

Examples: History tours, adding interesting and hands-on elements to a museum or having youth tour guides

• Service – Restoration or development projects could be used to meet requirements of the National Honor Society, Eagle Scout or merit badges, etc.

Examples: Park improvements, downtown beautification projects, adding bike racks

• Event/Festival/Activity Development – Event or activities that are of interest to younger residents

Examples: “Color Run,” festival, niche event or pop-up events

The Main Street Initiative seeks to create healthy, vibrant communities that attract the talent needed to support growing businesses. Engaging youth in these efforts is key to creating communities where they want to live and be a part of long-term. Youth are a great resource for fresh ideas and energy and can have a big impact on moving community projects.

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT THROUGH YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

Courtesy The Arts Center

Courtesy Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Business Driven – Assist a business, create a co-op or youth-managed amenity

Examples: Expand coffee shop hours, have youth run a business or assist the local grocery store or café so it can stay open longer hours

• Marketing – Assist the community in marketing its offerings Examples: Create and maintain a website, Instagram or Snap Chat,

build welcome signs, design print materials, enter community events in online calendars

Great North Dakota examples:• Rugby – High school history students did a research project that

combined the history of downtown Rugby and how changes downtown impacted the vibrancy of the community as a whole. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2jNN4kNxtY

• Watford City – B-Bonks Bakery grew out of a lemonade stand started by 17-year-old Rebecca Campbell. The community echoed the need for a bakery and her parents helped with a loan and remodeled a building on Main Street. Prior to earning her high school diploma, Campbell began her day pre-dawn at the bakery. http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/watford-city-high-schooler-opens-bakery/article_2f7c470b-41a4-5c2a-af04-dc63d23b73ac.html

• Newburg – Lam’s Lanes is operated by 16-year-old Trent Hunskor, who runs the business in addition to attending school and working at another job. His goal was to re-open the bowling alley to continue to offer “some fun” in the community. http://www.myndnow.com/news/minot-news/young-entrepreneur-opens-bowling-alley/858305209

How do I identify good projects?Identify what is important to your community residents, especially younger people. There are many ways to get ideas for projects, including community surveys or asking the youth what they think the community is lacking. Projects that youth can own are achievable. Projects with quick results or those that are scalable to keep momentum going will be most successful.

How do I find the right youth group?Matching projects with active youth groups will vary by community. Whether you start with the project first or the interested youth group – all projects should meet a community need and be sustainable. Student and community leaders could start with a swap meet where ideas are pitched or opportunities showcased, or start by determining who is active in your community. It may be a formal group such as FFA, FBLA or DECA or it might be an art club or individual student in need of a service project.

Courtesy Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau

Courtesy Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau