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What does it look like when a community comes together to shape its future?
In the Sunrise Corridor, more than 1,500 community members, organizations, civic leaders, and elected officials helped create a shared vision for the area, identifying priorities like transportation safety, economic opportunity, and community livability. One of those priorities was clear: invest in youth and help prepare the next generation to take on leadership roles in the community.
The Sunrise Corridor Youth Civic Engagement Program is one of the projects launched in response to that feedback. Designed with community input, the program reflects a shared goal of equipping young people in the Sunrise Corridor to build skills, confidence, and opportunities to become leading voices in their communities one day.
This summer, Clackamas County and the Sunrise Community Coalition, in partnership with the Happy Valley Youth Council, are offering a free, hands-on opportunity for high school students to build skills, connect with real community issues, and learn how their voices can shape decisions.
The program is designed to give students practical, real-world experience in civic engagement. Participants will build skills in public speaking and communication, gain a better understanding of how local decisions are made, and grow their confidence in sharing ideas and stepping into leadership roles.
Rather than learning solely in a classroom setting, students will actively practice these skills through interactive workshops and guided activities.
From approximately mid-July to mid-August, students will take part in three interactive workshops focused on communication, civic engagement, and understanding local issues. These sessions are designed to be engaging, collaborative, and directly connected to what’s happening in the Sunrise Corridor and across the region.
The program will culminate in a final project in September, where students will apply what they’ve learned in a real-world setting. Whether that means presenting ideas in-person at public meetings, sharing solutions via written letters or short-form videos, or engaging with community leaders in other innovative ways, the goal is to ensure students leave the program with both experience and confidence.
The program is open to high school students who live in, attend school in, or spend time in the Sunrise Corridor and want to get more involved in their community. Students don’t need prior experience, just an interest in learning, participating, and making a difference.
As the Sunrise Corridor continues to grow and evolve, the voices of young people are essential. This program is one way the Sunrise Community Coalition is working to ensure that the next generation is not only included in the conversation but equipped to lead it.
By investing in youth leadership today, the community is helping build a stronger, more connected future for everyone.
Apply now or scan the QR code on the program flyer. The deadline to apply is June 5.
The Sunrise Corridor Youth Civic Engagement Program is hosted by Clackamas County and the Sunrise Community Coalition, in partnership with the Happy Valley Youth Council.