Peer Networks – Cross Network and Special Sessions

• Youth unemployment is at its highest in over a decade – 14.6%
• Climate crisis is impacting young people – facing anxiety, disconnection and polarization
• There is a tremendous amount of work that needs to happen in communities to take climate action – this is often downloaded onto Local Governments

What is the YCC Model

• Unique skills training program that centres young people in community development, climate education and leadership training while supporting career development and providing living wages
• YCC partners with Local Governments, Nations and Communities to co-design a needs-based approach to programming
• Has provided employment to more than 140 young people (each paid a regional living wage)
• Since 2020, have completed 10,000 working days of climate action
• Have been included in the electoral platforms of the federal Liberals, NDP and Greens
• This model offers practical hope – real connection to community to make change
• YCC is a capacity multiplier and is able to connect the right people to take leaps together

Learn more about Youth Climate Corps BC

• Local food security
• Ecosystem restoration
• Ecological monitoring
• Public outreach and education

The Ah-Ha Moment : YCC can multiply the impact of many organizations. We’re stronger together!

• Community climate outreach & education through a climate action booth throughout the summer
• Community outreach such as bike valet programs, and e-bike social rides
• Community resiliency workshops including DIY air filters, emergency preparedness go-bags, transit commuting, clothing swaps
• Ecosystem restoration and local agriculture
• Career skills development

The Ah-Ha Moment(s) 

• Well-paying jobs for youth firmly establish climate action into a community identity
• Youth-led climate action makes the culture around climate action fun, motivating, hopeful and emotional

• Sustainable transportation
• Ecosystem restoration & species protection
• Community outreach and intergenerational events
• Circular economy & waste reduction

The Ah-Ha Moment(s) 

• Youth involvement increases community capacity to deliver on local initiatives
• Public awareness – residents surprised to see youth leading sustainability work on behalf of the district

An in-depth discussion to surface deeper insights follows.

1. Integration with Climate Plans is Essential  – aligning projects within existing municipal strategies and climate action plans streamlines approval and initiation of Youth Climate Corps projects
2. Strong Partnerships and Cross-Departmental Planning Drive Success  – when projects are embedded across multiple departments, there is a greater ability to maximize impact, expand reach and build community trust
3. Budgeting and Continuity Need Early Attention  – early planning and scoping for scheduling can ensure clear expectations and program longevity
4. Funding Models are Flexible and Adaptive  – communities are able to combine internal and external funding sources to sustain programs, utilizing reserve funds, additional grants, LGCAP funding, in addition to cost-sharing with YCC

1. Learn more about Youth Climate Corps  and reach out to the YCC team for more information.
2. Share a letter of Support for Youth Climate Corps  – open until Nov 17th (please refer to details in the email sent to anyone who had registered to attend the meeting).

• Commonly underserved groups: renters, low-income households, seniors, people with disabilities or health conditions, racialized communities, small business owners, and landlords.
• Successful strategies already in use: door-to-door outreach, concierge-style services, public assemblies, multilingual communications, and partnerships with community organizations—especially when co-designed and framed around immediate benefits.
• Common barriers: legal constraints, split incentives, staffing and funding shortages, and integrating equity too late in program development.
• Gaps needing further research: equity-driven data collection, tenant retrofit financing, cooling and heat resilience for rentals, program framing, and climate programs tailored for rural and northern contexts.

• Vancouver: Equity Framework: Getting Our House In Order embeds equity into all city operations, emphasizing systemic change through accountability, Indigenous rights, and cultural shifts.
• Portland: The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) channels voter-approved funds to frontline-led climate justice projects, demonstrating how strong community oversight builds trust and scales impact.
• Philadelphia: The Energy Poverty Alleviation Strategy connects clean energy with housing upgrades, cutting energy burdens for BIPOC and low-income residents.
• Seattle: City Light Public Charging Program: Curbside Level 2 Expansion strategically grows EV infrastructure in underserved, renter-heavy areas, linking electrification to health and justice.
• Sanikiluaq: The Anuriqjuak Nukkiksautiit Project —an Inuit-led wind initiative—cuts diesel reliance by 70%, showing how local leadership advances renewable transitions despite policy lags.
• Nova Scotia: The Alternative Resource Energy Authority (AREA) lets small towns co-own renewables, proving shared governance can overcome capacity limits and drive local resilience.

• Community engagement is a critical success factor.
• Equity must be a structural, ongoing process , not a one-time initiative.
• Flexibility and responsive design help reach more people.
• Programs resonate most when aligned with community priorities like health, affordability, and safety.

1. Engage early and continuously : start engagement before design and sustain it through implementation.
2. Design around community priorities : root programs in what matters most—health, comfort, affordability.
3. Tailor outreach and communications : use in-language supports and culturally accessible approaches.
4. Build internal capacity : ensure staff, systems, and funding support respectful, effective work with underserved groups.
5. Track and embed equity metrics : what gets measured gets managed; tracking ensures accountability.

• Participants shared insights on successful strategies and c hallenges for community engagement and current efforts to reach underrepresented groups.
• Groups emphasized the importance of designing programs around local priorities through co-creation , building internal and external capacity for trauma-informed and inclusive practices , and tailoring outreach using culturally relevant, cohort-specific messaging.
• Strong partnerships with local organizations and dedicated engagement roles were seen as critical to success across multiple groups.

• limited resources,
• siloed departments, and
• challenges related to collecting meaningful, disaggregated equity data.