About MYC
History
The Minneapolis Youth Congress (MYC) met for the first time on October 25, 2007 at the Minneapolis Central Library. They were collectively presented with brown MYC t-shirts with the No Decision About Us, Without Us! theme on each of their backs. The youth were joined by elected officials and staff from the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board endorsing this great moment for the City of Minneapolis in youth leadership, voice and power.
Elected officials addressing the youth included Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman, Mayor RT Rybak, Minneapolis City Council Member Elizabeth Glidden and Minneapolis School Board Director Peggy Flanagan. Read the RESOLUTION that was created and passed by the Minneapolis Youth Congress in each of our jurisdictions.
"No Decision About Us Without Us"
The Minneapolis Youth Congress is a representative body of youth that has authentic power and influence in decisions and policies relevant to youth. MYC works in collaboration with elected officials focusing on a common understanding of the welfare of the youth in the City of Minneapolis.
The Minneapolis Youth Congress Advises
• The City of Minneapolis
• Minneapolis Public Schools
• Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
• Hennepin County
• The Minneapolis Libraries in the Hennepin County Library System
• Minneapolis Police Department
• Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board
Membership and Structure
• 50 - 60 members
• 8th - 12th grade
• 1 year - 2 year term
• Full congress meets six times a year
• Committees meet twice a month
• Congress housed in the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board
Want To Join MYC?
If you or someone you know is interested in joining MYC please visit the JOIN MYC PAGE to learn more. MYC generally accepts applications during summer and welcomes a new cohort of MYC members in the fall. If you have a question regarding MYC, please call 612-387-7909
MYC Twitter Feed
MYC Committees
The Minneapolis Youth Congress is made up of five different committees, which include:
Education - Members work on initiatives, participate in discussions and facilitate youth community conversations aimed at informing youth, parents and adult stakeholders about issues that matter to young people in their educational journey. These issues range from the discipline gap and its implications for Minneapolis students to better student/teacher relationships and alternatives to out of school suspensions to addressing cultural and racial equity in schools.
Housing - Members learn about affordable housing, opportunity housing and workforce housing as well as Racially Concentrated Areas of Poverty (RCAP). They also learn about the Housing Policy Plan, the MN Housing Finance Agency, economically integrated housing and “livable communities.”
Employment - Members encourage youth employment by moderating the annual Hennepin County Teen Job Fair, leading employment workshop training and partnering and advising with the Teen Council and Step-Up at Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Department.
Transportation & Green - Members work to find ways they can shape and influence the public transit system in the Twin Cities to make it more youth friendly. Members work with the Metropolitan Council to give input and gain youth voices to shape the transportation system of the next generation.
In the past few years members have also worked with the city of Minneapolis to develop plans for bike trails and greenways through a Northside Greenway Project lifting voices of youth to identify their needs and considerations.
Health - Members of the Health Committee focus on a large variety of health issues including comprehensive sex education, awareness building of human sex trafficking with youth, businesses, and decision makers of how to look for signs and partner on building solutions.
