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Youth Groups

Grand Forks Youth Commission logo

The Grand Forks Youth Commission

 

The Grand Forks Youth Commission is a "cooperative coalition of youth and adult mentors working to enhance the lives of Grand Forks Youth." It is a joint partnership between the Grand Public Schools district and the city of Grand Forks. Established in 2007, the GF Youth Commission exists to identify, promote, improve, increase and provide services and programs for young people in Grand Forks. The GF Youth Commission is a group of about 32 young people between the ages of 14 and 18 who advise the Mayor and the Grand Forks City Council and advocate on behalf of youth in the community. It is a diverse group of youth representing many perspectives, ages and backgrounds. It is also an important way for youth to be actively involved in decisions of community entities that affect youth. The GF Youth Commissioners develop leadership skills, encourage other young people to get involved, and voice concerns and needs of our young people.

 

The primary objectives of the GF Youth Commission are based on the Five Promises of America's Promise Alliance:

  1. Caring Adults

  2. Safe Places

  3. A Healthy Start

  4. An Effective Education

  5. Opportunities to Help Others

 

For more information or to send a message to the Commission, email info@grandforksgov.com.

YORS group logo

Youth Gaining Opportunities, Recognition, and Skills (YORS)

 

YORS stands for "Youth Gaining Opportunities, Recognition and Skills". It is sponsored by the Grand Forks Public Schools in partnership with the City of Grand Forks. YORS is a group of students from every middle and high school in the Grand Forks Public Schools system. The groups work at the building level to enhance the work of the Grand Forks Youth Commission. YORS helps to make this community a better place to practice healthy choices and reduce health risk behaviors that influence youth. YORS supports the ongoing goal of the Grand Forks Youth Commission to positively change the prevalence of alcohol use within the community by encouraging alcohol-free events to delay the age of first use, reduce alcohol use among young people who have already tried drinking and reduce the number of alcohol-related problems of young people.

Helping Hands group logo

Helping Hands

 

The Grand Forks Public Schools' Helping Hands Program is a summer student volunteer program for students in grade 6-12. It gives them the opportunity to volunteer at over 40 local non-profit agencies in our community. This experience looks great on college applications and future job applications. The GFPS Helping Hands program has been in existence since 2001. This program is a character-building opportunity. Young people learn why and how to care for the needs of the greater community by committing to volunteer. This program creates wonderful opportunities for service learning that last a lifetime and also serves as a protective factor providing a healthy alternative to using alcohol or other drugs.

 

Find the program coordinators’ contact information here: www.gfschools.org/students/summer-schools/helping-hands

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