FAQ

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
About the Frederick Youth Council

The 12-to-24 Collaborative is a collaborative of interested parties, in this case, Frederick-focused members of the public, youth service providers, educators, health providers, elected officials, philanthropic leaders, and youth. A collaborative is defined as working jointly with others. The 12-to-24 Collaborative will operate as a collaborative and consortium: a group of participants jointly conducting work, solving issues, and strategizing towards the desired outcome.

The 12-to24 Collaborative will make a youth hub building a reality by spreading the word, advocating, and providing the backbone support for the creation of the youth hub building. Regular meetings to strategically plan for infrastructure and programming were held throughout 2023, with the ultimate goal of putting forth a viable plan.

The 12-to-24 Collaborative will be comprised of a Leadership Council, comprised of neutral parties, with a common interest in serving youth. Through its charter and governing documents, the Leadership Council will function as a governing body, voting on initiatives and priorities brought forth by the workgroups.

A workgroup is a small boots-on-the-ground group of stakeholders made up of experts in specified areas of knowledge. Workgroups met throughout 2023 to inform various elements of the future Youth Hub Building including: data sharing, service mapping, workforce development (National League of Cities), youth council, and the hub building. 

The Youth Hub Building is intended to be centrally located in Downtown Frederick, serving youth in secondary grades (age 12+) through young adulthood (age 24). The Youth Hub Building is envisioned as an inclusive space focused on providing a safe place for all youth and young adults to recreate, congregate and benefit from; and providing resources to those who are disconnected or at risk of becoming disconnected. The Youth Hub Building is conceived of as a “hub-and-spokes” model, by which youth service providers within the County might all provide programming, services and resources in one centralized hub/location, using a non-siloed approach. The development of the strategic plan for the Youth Hub Building will be governed and conceived of by the 12-to-24 Collaborative.

It is anticipated that youth service providers such as the YMCA, The Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County, and others will all be able to utilize the Youth Hub Building as a satellite location, providing services in and to the Hub; however, all activities and programs within the Hub will be available for youth at no charge, provided they are registered users, with a valid Hub ID.

The Downtown Safety and Services Initiative, and subsequent report, were developed to pursue a shared vision for Downtown Frederick, focusing on safety for all, respect for each individual, and advancing the community’s vibrancy. Through civic engagement, thoughtful planning, and the commitment of Frederick’s own – over 70 leaders, human services providers, businesses, and residents came together to make recommendations to ensure Downtown Frederick is a safe, welcoming, and prosperous environment for all our citizens and visitors.

One group, The Services and Coordination Committee, determined ways to expand and increase access to human services by analyzing current offerings, coordination, and how well they serve Downtown Frederick’s needs. One of the committee’s main recommendations was to provide alternative venues and care services for youth to guarantee that they have options for socializing and recreation that are safe and that adolescent support is easy to access.

In response to this recommendation, a consulting group was engaged and formed a small advisory group to analyze the youth services landscape, including the viability of a Downtown Youth Hub Building in the Fall of 2021. The resulting full report can be found here.

The Frederick 12-to-24 Collaborative was chartered in October 2022 to lead the Youth Hub Building initiative. The Collaborative includes members and service-specific Workgroups, encompassing Frederick-focused members of the public, youth service providers, educators, health providers, elected officials, religious leaders, business leaders, philanthropic leaders, parents, and youth.

As an already established 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit, your organization will serve as a “spoke,” and you will continue to manage your own grant/revenue streams. The fiscal sponsor will manage the Downtown Frederick Youth Hub Building. The fiscal sponsor will budget and/or fundraise so that individual youth service provider organizations can receive remuneration to bring their programs into the space as a satellite. The fiscal agent may be it’s own 501 (c)(3) or a government entity, like the City of Frederick (CoF), or a combination of the two.

To be determined. 

  • Youth and Young Adults: Help determine what the Youth Center will look like and what programs and services will be offered by serving on the Youth Council
  • Youth Service Providers: Be open to collaboration with other providers. Serve on the Leadership Council or Workgroups
  • Friends and Neighbors: Spread the word. Donate your time: Provide feedback on the strategic plan. Volunteer to serve on a Workgroup
  • Community Leaders: Advocate for policies and funding that support the vision of a collaboration to benefit Frederick youth
  • Public Officials: Help remove barriers that may impede progress on the project
  • Business Leaders: Encourage employee volunteerism. Share your knowledge and experience. Offer mentorships, exposure to workforce opportunities, internships, etc.

We appreciate your interest and dedication to establishing the Downtown Frederick Youth Hub! At this time, donations can be directed to the Community Foundation of Frederick County

A probable location has been identified on Scotty’s Bus Lane in Frederick, adjacent to McCurdy Field and in front of Frederick’s Boys and Girls Club. 

Based on input provided by youth during the community assessment, possible amenities include:

  • Welcoming and safe entry area with the front desk
  • Program spaces that can accommodate one-to-one services and meetings, such as mentoring and peer support
  • Art Room/Music Studio;
  • Gym for basketball/other indoor sports
  • Lounge areas, separate for different age groups
  • Multi-purpose office/co-working space for smaller nonprofit use
  • Offices for youth center staff
  • Kitchen/café’ (for cooking instruction)
  • Conference/meeting room
  • Outdoor space appropriate for recreation and relaxation
  • Multi-purpose Classrooms

Ideally, the fiscal sponsor will budget and/or fundraise such that individual youth service provider organizations can receive remuneration to bring their programs into the space as a satellite, at no cost to the youth. 

Get Involved

Click the link below if you want to help make a difference in the lives of Frederick teens and young adults.