In the heart of Vancouver, British Columbia*, lies a groundbreaking initiative striving to reshape the landscape of civic engagement among young people. Meet Rowan Gentleman-Sylvester, the dedicated Executive Director of CityHive, a pioneering youth-led nonprofit organization. With an unwavering commitment to empowering youth in shaping their communities, Rowan guides CityHive’s efforts in fostering civic literacy and engagement programs.
“In every program we run, especially the youth climate lab, people are excited to meet people who care, and not in an echo-chamber way but in a way where people connect, learn, and discuss complex issues.” Rowan shares.
The pressing question arises: why aren’t today’s youth actively participating in public civic discourse? CityHive seeks to address this gap by equipping young individuals aged 13-30 with the knowledge and tools necessary to engage in discussions surrounding crucial topics like sustainability, climate change, and urban planning. Through collaborative efforts with community partners, CityHive endeavors to ensure that youth voices, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, are amplified in decision-making processes.
At the core of CityHive’s mission lie three guiding principles: collaboration-first, centering equity-deserving communities, and being youth-centered. By embracing these principles, CityHive has emerged as a beacon of transformative change, operating at a remarkable scale while remaining steadfastly youth-led and youth-run.
Ultimately, the overarching goal is to have youth’s perspectives included in how their cities run, while giving them the tools needed to understand how they can participate in shaping the decisions made. Through a diverse array of programs, including civic education and literacy initiatives, climate action programs, and cohort labs, CityHive empowers youth to become catalysts for resilient, sustainable, and livable cities.
Amidst their many achievements, CityHive celebrates milestones such as the completion of five projects under the Youth Climate Innovation Lab and the impactful outcomes stemming from their cohort programs. Participants emerge inspired and equipped with invaluable skills, ready to drive meaningful change within their communities while leveraging funding from other youth-led organizations such as The Youth Harbour.
“The Youth Harbour grant application process is more accessible. They do a great job of embodying a trust-based philanthropic model that feels like being part of a community.”
Securing sustainable funding remains a perpetual hurdle, alongside the ongoing encounters with ageism and tokenization in institutional settings. Yet, CityHive perseveres, driven by the transformative potential of their work and the resounding impact it has on communities.
“How do we meaningfully and reciprocally engage the other voices? [Tokenism and discrimination] can destroy their ability to continue engaging later in life even when legitimate opportunities present themselves.”
Looking ahead, CityHive embarks on a new chapter, guided by a strategic plan aimed at furthering their mission. With initiatives like the City Shapers in Schools program and the groundbreaking Urban ReVision BIPOC Mentorship Studio on the horizon, CityHive continues to push boundaries and redefine the landscape of youth engagement in city development.
As we navigate the complexities of the modern world, CityHive stands as a testament to the power of youth voices and the transformative potential of collaborative action. To learn more about CityHive’s remarkable journey and their transformative programs, visit their website or connect with them on social media.
*CityHive is based on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. They also recognize the Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Qayqayt, Semiahmoo, S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Stz’uminus, scəwaθenaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsawwassen), and all Coast Salish peoples on whose land they do their work.
