Fresh perspectives from new Youth Council

Downtown Beaverton has grown exponentially in recent years, and the Beaverton Downtown Association has been hard at work creating a fun, inclusive environment with a lineup of special events that offer something for everyone. This summer, they’re proud and excited to present one of their newest ventures: the development of a Youth Council designed to give local high school students a chance to step into leadership roles and help the BDA plan the future of Downtown Beaverton for the next generation.

The Youth Council will mirror the BDA. Students in the program will get a taste of local government and an opportunity to take on leadership positions in project planning with a focus on family events and interactions in the community. “They’ll take on many different roles when it comes to planning a family event, especially in the First Street dining commons,” says Andrew Le, vice chair of the board for the BDA. “And if they want to branch into specific roles based on individual interest, we’ll set them up to job-shadow.”

The students are all from the Beaverton School District, grades 9–11. As council members, the kids will be helping manage and promote existing BDA events like the Boba Dash, but they’ll soon be holding their own monthly events for families and kids.

As a mutually beneficial collaboration, the Youth Council aims to teach students valuable life skills through real, hands-on experience, but it was also designed to bring a new perspective to Downtown Beaverton. “In the past, many of our events have been geared towards adults,” Andrew says. “We want to diversify the crowd we’re attracting and bring more kids and families to the downtown area. To do that, we need a younger mindset.” In turn, Youth Council members are learning how to network with others in their city to achieve common goals. “It’s important for them to communicate with different businesses and learn what they do.”

Andrew and the BDA are excited to see what the next year brings. They’ve been having monthly meetings with the Youth Council and getting organized to begin planning events. It’s been fun for the whole team to work with the kids and see their energy and enthusiasm. “They’re the next generation and will take over the world someday,” Andrew says. “We’re providing a network for them to learn new things and grow their existing skills to become the leaders of tomorrow.”

Downtown Beaverton is a special place with fun and unique energy, and with a long list of outstanding small businesses, it’s a fantastic place to grab a bite or go boutique shopping. The BDA continues to promote inclusivity to create a safe, family-friendly space for the whole community. “We want to invite families to enjoy the environment downtown and see all the great things we have going on,” says Andrew. “That’s a primary focus of the Youth Council: to help us create amazing events for kids and families, and they’re the perfect demographic.”

“We’re providing a network
for them to learn new things
and grow their existing skills
to become the leaders
of tomorrow.” —Andrew Le

For more information on the Beaverton Downtown Association, visit their website at Downtown Beaverton has grown exponentially in recent years, and the Beaverton Downtown Association has been hard at work creating a fun, inclusive environment with a lineup of special events that offer something for everyone. This summer, they’re proud and excited to present one of their newest ventures: the development of a Youth Council designed to give local high school students a chance to step into leadership roles and help the BDA plan the future of Downtown Beaverton for the next generation.

The Youth Council will mirror the BDA. Students in the program will get a taste of local government and an opportunity to take on leadership positions in project planning with a focus on family events and interactions in the community. “They’ll take on many different roles when it comes to planning a family event, especially in the First Street dining commons,” says Andrew Le, vice chair of the board for the BDA. “And if they want to branch into specific roles based on individual interest, we’ll set them up to job-shadow.”

The students are all from the Beaverton School District, grades 9–11. As council members, the kids will be helping manage and promote existing BDA events like the Boba Dash, but they’ll soon be holding their own monthly events for families and kids.

As a mutually beneficial collaboration, the Youth Council aims to teach students valuable life skills through real, hands-on experience, but it was also designed to bring a new perspective to Downtown Beaverton. “In the past, many of our events have been geared towards adults,” Andrew says. “We want to diversify the crowd we’re attracting and bring more kids and families to the downtown area. To do that, we need a younger mindset.” In turn, Youth Council members are learning how to network with others in their city to achieve common goals. “It’s important for them to communicate with different businesses and learn what they do.”

Andrew and the BDA are excited to see what the next year brings. They’ve been having monthly meetings with the Youth Council and getting organized to begin planning events. It’s been fun for the whole team to work with the kids and see their energy and enthusiasm. “They’re the next generation and will take over the world someday,” Andrew says. “We’re providing a network for them to learn new things and grow their existing skills to become the leaders of tomorrow.”

Downtown Beaverton is a special place with fun and unique energy, and with a long list of outstanding small businesses, it’s a fantastic place to grab a bite or go boutique shopping. The BDA continues to promote inclusivity to create a safe, family-friendly space for the whole community. “We want to invite families to enjoy the environment downtown and see all the great things we have going on,” says Andrew. “That’s a primary focus of the Youth Council: to help us create amazing events for kids and families, and they’re the perfect demographic.”

For more information on the Beaverton Downtown Association, visit their website at downtownbeaverton.org.