It Begins with YOUth! - The Story of Self, Us, and NOW
Description

When talking about “families” in housing, how often do you stop to think about the young people within them? Across affordable housing communities, youth are not just part of the household. They are often the most immediate witnesses to how housing policy, community conditions, and leadership decisions shape daily life. That is why NAHRO’s youth program motto is: “It begins with YOUth!”   

This immersive training guides participants through the full S.U.N. Public Narrative Framework (Story of Self, Story of Us, and Story of Now) using realistic youth personas to explore leadership, advocacy, and the power of storytelling. Participants step into youth perspectives to uncover challenges, values, and shared experiences, then practice crafting and delivering Stories of Now that inspire action. Stepping back into their own perspective, participants will use empathy mapping to identify key changes they can make as adult leaders to amplify youth voice, strengthen engagement, and create meaningful impact.  

Objectives
After completing this training, participants will be able to:
  • Step into the shoes of youth using realistic personas to experience firsthand how housing and community policies impact their lives. 
  • Reflect on personal values and leadership practices to understand how decisions and actions shape youth engagement and outcomes. 
  • Explore shared youth experiences and adult responses to uncover barriers, build trust, and strengthen collective voice and leadership. 
  • Craft and deliver compelling “Stories of Now” that translate personal and collective insights into timely, values-driven action. 
  • Reflect on their own leadership practices through the lens of youth perspectives to identify specific, actionable changes that amplify youth voice, strengthen engagement and create meaningful impact. 
Who Should Attend
  • Resident Services staff
  • Individuals that work with or serve youth in their communities
Summary
Availability:
Registration Required
Location:
Online Meeting
Date / Time:
Dec 31, 2099 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET
Credit Offered:
0.7 CEU Credit
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