Beyond Programs: Meaningful Youth Participation with Stephen Sverchek

This week we are joined by Stephen Sverchek, Executive Manager of Innovation and Impact at Youth Opportunities. Stephen's career has spanned four continents where he has contributed to education, community development, and youth empowerment initiatives. With over a decade of experience, Stephen leads strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing youth agency, building personal leadership skills, and strengthening communities nationwide. His approach is grounded in collective impact, co-design with young people, and cross-sector collaboration to ensure sustainable change. Stephen discusses the youth participation framework developed to engage young people in community centers. This framework formalizes youth engagement, involving young people in both service design and delivery. He highlights the need for open spaces and partnerships to attract youth to community centers, while also noting the success of digital tools and the importance of face-to-face interactions. Stephen also discusses Youth Opportunities programs that focus on social-emotional learning, enterp