Workshops & Webinars
Youth Engagement Speaker Series
Unlock the power of youth perspectives with YEP! Youth Engagement Planning workshops and webinars, designed specifically for planners and educators.
Our dynamic sessions provide tools and strategies to meaningfully engage young voices in shaping communities, fostering creativity, and building a pipeline for the next generation of leaders. Whether you're looking to integrate youth engagement into your planning processes or inspire students with hands-on activities and real-world applications, YEP! offers tailored programming to meet your needs.
Join us to learn innovative approaches, gain practical resources, and collaborate with like-minded professionals dedicated to creating inclusive and vibrant spaces for all. Together, we can empower young minds and transform communities!
Webinar: Thursday, May 29 | 12:00 - 1:00pm (CST)
Join YEP! (Youth Engagement Planning) for a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the award winning Ava Tanner, The City Planner—a groundbreaking children’s book designed to inspire the next generation of city planners. In this webinar, YEP! Founder Corrin Wendell, AICP, will share the story behind the book’s development, from the initial idea to writing, publishing, and community engagement.
Participants will learn how Ava Tanner was crafted to reflect inclusive, youth-centered planning values and how storytelling can be a powerful tool for civic education and outreach. The session will also explore how planners, educators, and communities can use the book as a platform to engage young people in shaping the future of their cities.
Whether you're passionate about youth engagement, storytelling, or creating more inclusive pathways into the planning profession, this session will offer inspiration, practical ideas, and a first look at what's next for YEP! and Ava Tanner’s journey.
Webinar: Thursday, June 26 | 12:00 - 1:00pm (CST)
Youth are not just the future of our communities—they are powerful voices for shaping them today. Join YEP! (Youth Engagement Planning) for a dynamic session exploring practical, proven strategies for effectively engaging young people in planning, design, and community development processes.
In this webinar, we’ll walk through the new YEP! Guide to Youth Engagement, a step-by-step resource for planners, public agencies, educators, and advocates looking to authentically involve youth in decision-making. Participants will learn how to design youth engagement activities that are meaningful, creative, and rooted in equity, while avoiding common pitfalls like tokenism and surface-level participation.
The session will highlight real-world case studies, ready-to-use tools, and key principles for building youth engagement programs that inspire leadership, trust, and long-term civic involvement. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to strengthen existing efforts, this webinar will give you the foundation to make youth engagement a vibrant part of your work.
Webinar: Thursday, July 24 | 12:00 - 1:00pm (CST)
Too often, youth are seen only as the "future leaders" of our communities. But young people are already shaping our cities, policies, and civic life today. In this keynote session, Corrin Wendell, AICP, Founder of YEP! (Youth Engagement Planning), challenges the traditional narrative and makes a powerful case for why youth must be centered in the now—not just planned for in the future.
Drawing from real-world engagement projects, community planning initiatives, and her experience leading national youth planning efforts, Corrin will highlight how planners, policymakers, and community leaders can move beyond symbolic involvement toward meaningful, transformational youth participation.
Participants will leave with a renewed understanding of the urgency, creativity, and wisdom that young people bring to today's challenges—and how tapping into that energy can create more resilient, inclusive, and equitable communities right now.
Key Takeaways:
Why traditional approaches to youth engagement often fall short
How to build authentic, action-driven partnerships with young people
Real examples of youth shaping planning, policy, and design today
Steps for embedding youth leadership into ongoing community processes
Webinar: Thursday, August 28 | 12:00 - 1:00pm (CST)
Youth bring fresh ideas, bold perspectives, and critical insights to community planning—yet they are often left out of decision-making processes. In this interactive webinar, YEP! (Youth Engagement Planning) will guide participants through the steps to create a Youth Engagement Action Plan that moves beyond traditional outreach and into authentic collaboration with young people.
Participants will learn how to design engagement activities that are accessible, meaningful, and aligned with planning goals. We’ll cover how to set clear objectives, build trust with youth, structure engagement activities, and create feedback loops that show young people their voices matter. You’ll leave with a roadmap to integrate youth engagement into your planning projects in a way that is strategic, measurable, and transformative.
Key Takeaways:
Framework for building a Youth Engagement Action Plan
Strategies for recruiting and retaining diverse youth participants
Tools for designing youth-friendly engagement activities
Tips for making youth input visible in planning outcomes
Webinar: Thursday, September 25 | 12:00 - 1:00pm (CST)
Youth are essential partners in building vibrant, resilient communities. But meaningful youth engagement doesn’t happen by accident—it requires intention, creativity, and trust. In this webinar, YEP! (Youth Engagement Planning) will share field-tested best practices for designing and leading youth engagement efforts that are effective, equitable, and lasting.
Participants will explore proven strategies for recruiting youth participants, creating safe and empowering spaces for collaboration, and translating youth input into real-world outcomes. Through real case studies, tools, and tips, you’ll leave better equipped to elevate youth voices in planning, design, and community development work.
Whether you are launching a new youth initiative or strengthening existing efforts, this session will help you build partnerships with young people that are authentic, impactful, and sustainable.
Webinar: Thursday, October 23 | 12:00 - 1:00pm (CST)
Imagine a school day where students are the city builders, decision-makers, and visionaries of their own communities. YEP!’s Planning Day in School program makes this a reality!
In this training session, participants will learn how to deliver a fun, hands-on, and standards-aligned Planning Day experience for K-12 students. We’ll walk you through the full Planning Day model—sharing curriculum guides, activities, and tips for leading engaging classroom sessions where students explore real planning concepts like zoning, transportation, housing, and parks.
You’ll leave with everything you need to inspire the next generation of planners right in their own schools, while helping students connect planning to their lives and communities.
How to organize and deliver a Planning Day in a school setting
Lesson plans, activities, and materials for different grade levels
Tips for building excitement and connecting planning to students’ everyday experiences
Strategies for partnering with teachers, schools, and community leaders
Webinar: Thursday, December 18 | 12:00 - 1:00pm (CST)
Youth engagement isn’t one-size-fits-all—and it certainly isn’t just for young children. Effective youth engagement strategies must be customized to meet young people where they are, from elementary students to high schoolers and beyond.
In this dynamic webinar, YEP! (Youth Engagement Planning) will share how to design youth engagement activities that are developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and aligned with different age groups. Participants will learn how to move beyond basic "elementary" activities and create meaningful, age-specific experiences that empower youth as active contributors to planning and community-building processes.
Through real-world examples, ready-to-use tools, and lessons learned from the field, you’ll leave with the skills to customize your youth engagement efforts—making them deeper, more inclusive, and more impactful across all stages of youth development.
How youth engagement needs change from early childhood to young adulthood
Strategies for tailoring activities, communication, and expectations by age group
Best practices for creating authentic leadership opportunities for middle and high school students
Real examples of customized youth engagement projects that worked
Workshop: Saturday, November 15 | 11:30 - 1:30pm
Put youth engagement tools into action for the Twin Cities’ largest Girl Scout Troop and help the scouts earn the first-ever City Planning Patch! Participants will learn youth engagement strategies and take part in interactive activities with more than 100 local girl scouts! Are you interested in integrating youth into your planning initiatives? Are you committed to building lasting connections with historically marginalized communities, while also contributing to the diversity of our profession? This workshop provides theoretical underpinnings to approach both goals with practical tools, while also providing interactive engagement with youth!
This program introduces participants to the fascinating world of city planning while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and community engagement. Through interactive activities, games, and hands-on projects, you will explore various aspects of city planning, from transportation and infrastructure to green spaces and community design. Stations include:
City Foundations. Build a city with buildings, roads, parks, etc using blocks, cardboard, tape, etc and other design elements.
Sustainable Cities. Add sustainable components to building models and test your STEM skills.
Transportation & Mobility. Explore different modes of transportation (cars, buses, bikes, walking, etc) traffic signs and signals, creating a transportation system for a mini-city.
Community Engagement. Share your goals and aspirations for your community. Your comments will be shared with local city planners to inform their work!
