State Youth Council

Colorado State Youth Council


The State Youth Council (SYC) is a sub-committee of the Education & Training Steering Committee of the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC). The SYC advises and champions the creation of multiple pathways to economic and career success for Colorado’s youth. The SYC serves as the youth expertise body of the CWDC and will: 

  • Identify and champion promising practices advancing youth talent development.
  • Engage youth on their expertise and lived experiences to inform decisions.
  • Advise on how to best engage youth in career-connected learning opportunities.
  • Provide recommendations on policies and practices impacting youth talent development.
  • Make recommendations for use of SYC funds.


The State Youth Council convenes quarterly to set the direction of initiatives and programs impacting youth talent development in Colorado. During 2020-2021 the SYC has chosen to focus on advancing the following strategic priorities:  

  • Support employers in creating welcoming workplaces for youth.
  • Promote behavioral and mental health supports for workplace success.
  • Accelerate and champion registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeships for youth.


2020-2021 Values: 

  • Youth engaged as partners and decision makers
  • Dignity in all pathways 
  • Collaboration
  • Sustainability
  • Agility
  • Inclusivity
  • Operational excellence
SYC Members
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State Youth Council Members

State Youth Council (SYC) appointees serve two-year terms as voting members of the SYC and work to promote and advise the CWDC on efforts to create multiple pathways to economic and career success for Colorado’s youth. The SYC is made up of young leaders under the age of 26, state agency members, and representatives from Colorado non-profits and other community-based organizations.

Executive Committee Members

Cameron Vigil, Young Invincibles Co-Chair

Steve Wright, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Workforce Development Programs

Larry Beer, United States Department of the Army

Tanya Rivera- Vigil, Fort Collins High School

Youth Leaders

Ashley A Settergren, League of Women Voters, Legacy Foundation, DECA

Brittany Stadler, CareerWise Colorado

Gabriella Carrethers, YAASPA

Michaela Lee, YAASPA

Sharai Conde

Aimee Resnick

Shriya Biddala

Olivia Ferzacca

Anushka Udeshi

Emily Grumann

Nick Huber

State Agency Members

Dan Kraus, Colorado Workforce Development Council, Pueblo JATC

Katie Oliver, Colorado Department of Education

Lauren Jones, Colorado Community College System

Lorin Wakefield, Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment

Pearl Bell, Colorado Department of Human Services

Sam Fogleman, Colorado Department of Higher Education

Shanae Core, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Suzie Miller, Arapahoe/Douglas Works

Partner Organizations

Amber Palmeri, Mile High Youth Corps

Baird McKevitt, Xcel Energy, Center for Energy Workforce Development

Bob Gemignani, Pikes Peak Business & Education Alliance

Elizabeth Barber, Greeley Dream Team

Eric Dunker, Arapahoe Community College

Francis Vigil, Colorado Springs Electrical JATC

Karina Amaya, Weld County Department of Human Services

Lorena Zimmer, Denver Chamber of Commerce

Stephanie Murphy, Junior Achievement

Leila Benedyk, Boys and Girls Club of Colorado

Madeline Williams, United Way Denver

Glenn Hard, Careers in Construction 

Gideon Geisel, George Washington High School

 

Youth Engagement

Do you have an organization, event, or promising practice that you would like highlighted? Use the form below and your submission may be included on the SYC website.
 

  Make a Submission


 

Meeting Dates & Materials 

Materials for past and upcoming meetings can be accessed via the drop-down menus below.

Upcoming meeting dates:

Archived Meeting Materials

February 7, 2023

Nov 17, 2022

Aug 4, 2022 

May 5, 2022 

June. 10, 2021

The June SYC meeting centered around planning for the year ahead in order to support youth workforce development.

March. 4, 2021

  • The March SYC meeting was facilitated by Project VOYCE, whose mission is to partner with a youth to cultivate transformational leadership that addresses the root causes of inequity in underrepresented communities. Project VOYCE facilitated a session that allowed for small group conversations, values sharing, and norm building to support the SYC in advancing towards its goals of better-utilizing youth voice and expertise in decision making and conversation.

Jan. 28, 2021 

  • At the January meeting, SYC members and interested parties discussed the Statewide Youth Career Fair and Symposium being held in April, including its impact on youth employment and career development and how you can get involved.

Dec. 3, 2020

Oct. 1, 2020

June 11, 2020

Feb. 13, 2020

 

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Resources

  • The Blue Bench Webinar - Trauma-informed Care in the Workplace. This session is designed to support employers in utilizing trauma-informed practices to better support young people entering the workforce. View Recording.
     
Colorado Youth Talent Development

A landscape analysis of youth talent development activities in Colorado is in the process of being developed.

Career Navigator Toolkit

The Denver Opportunity Youth Initiative (DOYI), in partnership with the CWDC, released a Career Navigator Toolkit. The toolkit is a collection of promising practices from career navigators in Colorado.

Explore the toolkit

Colorado Statewide Youth Development Plan

The Colorado Department of Human Services maintains the Colorado Statewide Youth Development Plan, which presents a vision for a strong youth development network and strategies for improving an array of youth-focused policies, practices and programs. At the core of the vision and strategies is the incorporation of positive youth development principles into the services and programs for youth ages 9 to 25 in Colorado.

Learn more and access the Colorado Statewide Youth Development Plan

Mental Health Resources

This section includes resources from the SYC Mental Health Sub-group

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Get Involved

State Youth Council meetings are free and open to the public. All are welcome to participate in State Youth Council meetings and share their ideas on youth talent development in Colorado.
 

Become a member

The State Youth Council is currently recruiting new voting members. Please complete an application and we will follow up regarding your interest. State Youth Council Application