The information can help your organization think about who it can be serving, and it's curiously satisfying just to know. Young people are members of our communities, clients of our organizations, as well as its future leadership. That's why more organizations are involving young people in new ways, including as board members. There are many reasons, but here is a sampling. Young people may offer creative thinking and fresh perspectives that may not be present on your board.
Youth have powerful and effective informal networks.
If you want to reach young people in your community, recruiting two to serve on your board may be a great way to do so. When you bring up this idea with others on your board, some people may object. They might say that teenagers don't know how to be board members, or that high school students will leave the area after graduation. It WILL take commitment from the adults on the board to make it work. You may need to adjust meeting times, bylaws, or board member requirements.