The following milestones help to trace the evolution of Hampton's Youth Engagement Initiative.

1990

City Council convenes the Coalition for Youth. The Coalition's charge is developing recommendations for the city's youth/family agenda.

The Coalition receives a grant from Center for Substance Abuse and Prevention for Community Planning. As the lead agency, city government houses a new office focused on youth to staff the initiative.

1991

An outreach campaign designed to involve the widest range of citizen input is conducted. The outreach plan includes a Youth Task Force comprised of young people with a diversity of backgrounds & experiences charged with identifying critical issues facing Hampton's youth.

1992

The outreach process results in development of four strategic initiatives presented to Hampton City Council. City Council adopts a "Commitment to Youth" policy and approves and funds the four strategic initiatives.

1993

Youth Are Resources, a forerunner of the Youth Civic Engagement initiative begins when Alternatives, Inc., a local youth development agency, hires 20 youth to help them re-define their mission.

1994

Hampton's Neighborhood Office is established. Its charge is to help neighborhoods become supportive places for families and youth.

1995

The Coalition's community planning grant ends. The Hampton Coalition for Youth becomes a city department.

Young people began participating in neighborhood planning efforts.

1996

Hampton's Planning Department hires two youth as city planners and youth engagement becomes a topic of the city's new Neighborhood College.

1997

The Hampton Youth Commission, an outgrowth of the Mayor's Youth Council, is established. City Council funds the Youth Commission's grant program.

1998

The Hampton Superintendent of Schools creates a Youth Advisory Board with help from Alternatives, Inc. High School principals soon follow suit.

1999

Youth become voting members of the Parks & Recreation Youth Advisory Board and on the Citizens' Unity Commission. The first Youth Component of the city's Comprehensive Plan is adopted.

Hampton joins three other cities in a National Mobilization for Youth with the Center for Youth Development and Policy Research. Local youth and adults create the pyramid of opportunities to describe the emerging youth engagement system.

2000

Youth become full voting members on several civic associations.

In-Sync Partnerships is created to bring together the resources of neighborhoods and schools on behalf of youth.

2001

Hampton hosts a national symposium on youth development with support from the Center for Youth Development, Nat'l League of Cities and Coalition of Community Foundation for Youth.

2002

Hampton is awarded the Our Town award through Jostens Foundation and Search Institute.

2003

Hampton is selected as one of eight cities to receive the Kellogg Foundation's Youth Innovation Fund through the National Service Learning Partnership.

2004

Hampton's Youth Civic Engagement initiative is a finalist in the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award sponsored by the Ash Institute and Kennedy School of Government.

2005

Hampton's Youth Civic Engagement initiative is a WINNER of the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award sponsored by the Ash Institute and Kennedy School of Government.

Hampton is selected as one of thr 100 BEST Cities for Young People by America's Promise.

2006

The Youth Component, authored by Youth Planners and endorsed by Hampton Youth Commission is adopted by City Council as part of the city's Community Plan.

• Youth Civic Engagement
• Pathways to YCE
• Current Opportunities