Powered by YOUth: Authentic Youth Engagement

A Place 4 Me’s commitment to ending youth homelessness begins with listening to the young people who have experienced it. Authentic youth engagement is not a program or a single initiative. It is the foundation of how we design services, shape partnerships, and drive systems change. Young people guide our work, influence our decisions, and ensure that our community response reflects what they say they need to thrive.

As you read this section, you will see how lived experience leadership strengthens our mission and how Powered by YOUth comes to life through the voices, perspectives, and brilliance of young adults across Cuyahoga County.

REACH Youth Action Board

The REACH Youth Action Board is a group of young leaders who use their lived experience with homelessness, housing instability, and/or foster care to influence policies, programs, and community priorities. Members serve as advocates, presenters, facilitators, and leaders while advising A Place 4 Me and partners across Cuyahoga County. Their leadership helps ensure that youth voice remains central to our coordinated response to youth homelessness.

In 2024, YAB members contributed to systems planning efforts, met with local and national partners, participated in community events, and provided critical insight on initiatives that directly affect young people’s lives. Their work strengthens our entire community and reinforces the principle that young people know what they need to thrive.