Northfield Public Schools has received an award from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs for its involvement in the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative’s Youth on Boards program.

The Humphrey School recognized the efforts of 17 local government entities for its Local Government Innovation Awards (LGIA), and NPS was recognized for its achievements in the school category.

“We’re so excited to be recognized for this achievement,” says NPS Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann. “We strongly believe in creating spaces for youth to have their voices heard and to be actively engaged in civic life. Youth on Boards has been an extremely successful program for this, and can replicated in other communities.”

Youth on Boards allows for youth to get involved in local government, the school district and nonprofit organizations by serving on boards and commissions, and helps civic leaders become more informed of youth perspectives and priorities. Students who participate in the program gain exposure to meaningful careers in local government and gain skills that will serve them as they move into secondary education and beyond. The Youth on Boards program currently has 86 youth involved in 31 Boards, Commissions or Community Leadership Teams in the Northfield community. The Youth on Boards initiative is funded by a public-private partnership between Youthprise, the City of Northfield, and Northfield Healthy Community Initiative.

All the LGIA awardees will be formally recognized at a ceremony and reception on December 12 at 5 p.m. at the Humphrey School. The awards program is organized in partnership with the Bush Foundation and its Native Nation Building Initiative; and co-sponsored by the League of Minnesota Cities, the Association of Minnesota Counties, the Minnesota Association of Townships and the Minnesota School Boards Association.

The Youth on Boards initiative is funded by a public-private partnership between Youthprise, the City of Northfield, and Northfield Healthy Community Initiative.

To view the organization’s press release, visit https://www.hhh.umn.edu/news/humphrey-school-recognizes-local-governments-innovation-and-creativity.