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. 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.
Values:
- Youth engaged as partners and decision makers
- Dignity in all pathways
- Collaboration
- Sustainability
- Agility
- Inclusivity
- Operational excellence
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
Amber Palmeri, Mile High Youth Corps, Co-Chair
Nick Huber, Co-Chair
Steve Wright, CDLE - Workforce Development Programs, Secretary/Treasurer
- Youth Leaders
Shriya Biddala
Aarav Varma
Paola Trevizo
Aahana Dash
Aaliyah Berry
Vanessa Tao
Jonathan Kim
Madinatou Kouanda
Alex Trinklein
Ashlynne Bogema
Bhupin Jain
Bhushali Jain
Diana Eshetu
John Krug III
- State Agency Members
Dan Kraus, Colorado Workforce Development Council, Pueblo JATC
Baird McKevitt, Xcel Energy, Center for Energy Workforce Development
Shanae Core, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Sam Fogleman, Colorado Department of Higher Education
Michelle Dennis, Colorado Community College System
Lauren Radin, Colorado Department of Education
Drew Grissom, CDLE - Office of the Future of Work
- Partner Organizations
Bob Gemignani, Pikes Peak Business & Education Alliance
Eric Dunker, Arapahoe Community College
Glenn Hard, Careers in Construction
Stephanie Murphy, Junior Achievement
Madeline Williams, United Way Denver
Suzie Miller, Arapahoe/Douglas Works
Jay Samant, Youth Talent Development Network
Ashleigh Phillips, Centura Health
Jennifer Landers, Colorado Young Leaders / CiviCO
Letia Frandina, Adams County Education Consortium
Kylie Parks, Arvada Chamber of Commerce
Greg Cordova, Employment Services of Weld County
Andrew Yost, Weld County Government
Sydney Golditch, Arapahoe/Douglas Works
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.
Meeting Dates & Materials
Materials for past and upcoming meetings can be accessed via the drop-down menus below.
Upcoming Quarterly Meeting Dates:
- Monday, April 8, 2024, 4:00 - 5:00 pm - State Youth Council Onboarding - Register
- Friday, April 19, 2024, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm - TBD In-person/Hybrid Meeting
- Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 3:30 - 5:00 pm - Register
- Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm - Register
- Archived Meeting Materials
February 6, 2024
November 14, 2023
August 28, 2023
May 16, 2023
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
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.
- 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
- Mental Health Roundtable - View Recording
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