Youth

Group of children running outdoors toward camera.

Designing Cities With Youth in Mind

The car-centric design of many U.S. cities traps young people at home, preventing them from engaging in social activities and urban life.

November 16, 2023 - CNU Public Square

View of Los Angeles skyline on sunny day with palm trees in foreground

Youth Employment Program Earns Top L.A. County Award

The highly impactful Youth At Work program offers youth paid opportunities to develop skills in customer service, leadership, mentoring, and community engagement while helping with various programs and projects at Los Angeles County parks.

October 23, 2023 - Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission

Hawaii

Fighting for Their Future: Hawai’i Kids Sue State Over Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A group of Hawai’ian youth is suing the state’s Department of Transportation, claiming that Hawai’i’s transportation system contributes to climate change and the destruction of homes and cultural traditions.

June 16, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Rocky Mountains

The Kids Are Alright: Montana Youth Lead Climate Trial Effort

A group of teens is taking on the state of Montana, claiming that the state's continued dependence on fossil fuels infringes on their constitutional rights.

February 10, 2022 - NBC News

Weathered stone slabs with the words Juvenile Court Entrance engraved into it.

Minor Defendants: Kids Are Being Named in Evictions

Absurd as it may sound, minor children are sometimes named in eviction filings. If a child’s name makes in onto official court records—especially if those records are public and online—the damage can be irreversible.

November 17, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Not One More Girl campaign graphic

Teen-Led BART Campaign Brings Attention to Sexual Harassment on Transit

The Not One More Girl initiative seeks to implement tangible changes to improve the safety of young people on public transit.

May 18, 2021 - Teen Vogue

Kids Biking

LeBron James Wants Kids to Bike

The NBA star says bikes have played an important role in his life, and he wants young people to have the same access and freedom that biking gave him.

March 2, 2020 - Outside

Young Planners

Attracting Youth of Color to the Field of Planning

A leading youth engagement in planning program, explained.

December 12, 2019 - Planning Magazine

Skateboard Park

Skateboarding and the City

Skateboarding is becoming a legitimate part of the urban landscape by revitalizing public spaces and engaging young people and the broader community.

September 4, 2019 - The Conversation

Skaters

Yes Sitting, Yes Skating, Yes Music

Where can teenagers hang out and be safe in public? Members of Yes Loitering, advocates for public spaces where youth can “hang out and be themselves” without fear of reprisal.

March 31, 2018 - Urban Omnibus

Meet the Youth Plaintiffs Suing for Climate Change Action

A federal magistrate judge recently allowed a group of 21 youth plaintiffs to proceed with a lawsuit charging the federal government with neglecting their constitutional rights by failing to act on climate change.

April 11, 2016 - Grist

City Kids

It's Our Future You Are Planning For: Getting Youth Involved in Planning

This blog post highlights resources available to help engage children and young adults in participatory planning processes.

February 24, 2016 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

How Cities Criminalize Youth Activities

In an effort to build healthy, active public realms, many cities should considering some of the laws currently on the books that amount to shouting "get off my lawn."

January 12, 2015 - GOOD Magazine

Seattle Turns Streets to Play Areas

Seattle Department of Transportation launches "Play Streets" program to encourage some fun in the streets.

June 8, 2014 - Streets Blog

Skateboarders

Ethiopian Youth Build Community Through Skateboarding

A sixteen-year old teaches skateboarding to low-income youth as a viable means of transportation and for community building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

May 31, 2014 - Sustainable Cities Collective

Urban Youths to Save Future of Farming in America

A successful agriculture program in Southern California introduces farming as a viable career choice to suburban students.

March 16, 2014 - Public Radio International

From Google Buses to Google Youth Muni Passes

Turns out all those protests against the ubiquitous Google (and other tech) luxury buses that often crowd out S.F. Muni (public) buses have contributed to a show of good will to public transit in the form of a $6.8 million gift to fund youth passes.

March 1, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Youth and the Greatest Love of All….What I Learned From Whitney Houston

As a childhood Whitney Houston fan and former owner of her Greatest Hits cassette tape, her death revived memories of a 13 year old summer camper standing atop a twin bed belting out The Greatest Love of All into a hairbrush microphone. I never really paid much attention to the lyrics until news reports of her death relentlessly played the song--“I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” The 13-year old in me always liked that Whitney was singing about my generation, but beyond that, I didn’t quite understand the message. And it wasn’t until last month when I listened to the lyrics and I get it now.  It is our responsibility to prepare our children for their roles in building and shaping our world, our cities, our neighborhoods.

April 11, 2012 - Melissa Hege

Carpentry, Construction a Remedy for At-Risk Youth

Tom Stoelker reports on a program that's teaching inner-city youngsters valuable skills – by training them to build its own headquarters.

March 28, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Minority Youth Lead Shift to Majority

Minorities are becoming the majority in the United States, and the shift is most pronounced in populations under one year of age.

August 30, 2011 - The Brookings Institution

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.