Salaam Spaces is dedicated to creating a supportive and engaging environment for youth and young adults in the community by developing a comprehensive program of events and initiatives. The goal of this project is to understand which types of activities, resources, and experiences are most meaningful to young people and to benchmark these against successful community programs elsewhere.

By researching best practices and gathering direct input from local youth through surveys or focus groups, the project aims to design a tailored calendar of events that reflects the interests, needs, and aspirations of the community. This may include social gatherings, skill-building workshops, wellness initiatives, creative arts programs, and recreational activities.

The overall aim is to foster a sense of belonging, strengthen community connections, and create consistent opportunities for youth to engage, grow, and lead. The outcome will be a detailed proposal for a youth engagement program that can be implemented by Salaam Spaces to build a more vibrant, inclusive, and connected community.

Community Needs Assessment Summary

• Insights gathered from surveys, interviews, or focus groups with youth and young adults.
• Key themes, interests, and needs identified from community input.

Benchmarking Report

• Summary of successful youth engagement programs from other communities or organizations.
• Best practices and applicable models tailored to Salaam Spaces’ mission.

Proposed Program Framework

• A structured calendar of events and initiatives (e.g., workshops, wellness sessions, social gatherings, creative or recreational activities).
• Program categories aligned with youth interests (e.g., wellness, career development, arts, sports).

Implementation Plan

• Suggested timeline, resources, and roles required for rollout.
• Potential community partners, facilitators, and collaborators.

Engagement Strategy

• Recommendations for outreach and communication to attract and retain youth participation.
• Sample messaging, digital strategies, and in-person engagement ideas.

Presentation Deck

• A visual summary of findings and proposals, designed for internal review or community stakeholder presentation.