Students enrolled in the School of Planning and Public Affairs Public Policy and Persuasion course worked with key stakeholders in Maquoketa to develop a set of proposed policy initiatives to enhance youth civic engagement opportunities and involvement in the community.  

Young people under the age of 21 make up 28.3% of Maquoketa’s population. Opportunities for youth civic participation in Maquoketa are limited, and community leaders are looking to find new, more effective ways to engage with the young population.  

For this project students conducted research and collaborated with local leaders and stakeholders to produce potential solutions to increase youth civic participation in Maquoketa. The final report and presentation outlined best practices, policy recommendations, and next steps for engaging youth in civic activities.