Should I stay or should I go (getting the youth involved)
Published in the World Journal, April 9th, 2026 Issue
A thoughtful and important question was posed in a letter to the editor in last week’s issue of the World Journal. If you haven’t read it, go back and take a look. A college student named Cotty Phelps who lives in, and may soon be leaving, Las Animas County asked us all, “how — and should — we connect young people to the local community?”
With an age that still begins with ‘two’ myself, I have opinions on this. Also, Cotty mentioned my name in the letter and, much like Bloody Mary hearing someone mention her in front of their medicine cabinet, I am compelled to show up and start babbling. Here are my two cents on the topic.
Should? Yes. No question, no hesitation, we should always be trying to connect young people to community, not as a strategy to keep them here like a resource we hoard, but rather because we owe them that.
Humans, we are wired for connection. Small communities are uniquely well-poised to make people feel important, needed, and connected. It’s the kind of thing that can make people into life-long ‘burgers, regardless of where they live. Being young in those same small communities comes with significant challenges (limited educational opportunities, lack of extracurricular activities for teens, lack of child care and job opportunities for young adults), so not engaging young people in the good bits is like serving them a cake without the sugar in it.
In my experience, there is often a disconnect between the opportunities out there and the local youth. For example, I frequently hear from organizations that they want to get younger people involved. When I try to help out, I find that they don’t have weekend volunteer hours available, specific asks for volunteer activities, a helpful website, a social media page, or a clear online pathway for getting in touch.
That example, like many others, puts the expectation on the youth to work extra hard to get involved, which more often than not, won’t happen. To those who run organizations that are always needing help, hands, and community support, how are you reaching youth? Could you be doing better?
It shouldn’t be on the youth to work extra hard to get connected. However, that is the unfortunate reality that we too often see in our ‘Burgs. If you are a young person that wants more connection, I firmly believe that if you find somewhere to give some time and show some genuine interest, doors and networks will open for you.
Not sure where to begin? Consider checking your local food bank, stop at bake sales to learn what they’re fundraising for, and keep an eye on the events and classifieds sections in this paper for initiatives that are seeking volunteers.
Mr. Roger’s mother used to say, “Look for the helpers, you’ll always find people helping.” I hope to see you there.
