Engaging Our Youth: FCYC and Fayetteville NEXT – Fayetteville, NC

Problem/Rationale:
Fayetteville needed structured, meaningful pathways for young people to develop leadership skills, engage in civic life, and help shape the community, from teens preparing for adulthood to young adults entering the workforce.

Goals:

• Develop a pipeline of youth and young adult leaders.
• Provide meaningful civic engagement opportunities for teens and early-career residents.
• Strengthen community connection, service, and long-term leadership capacity.

Project Summary

Fayetteville has made youth engagement a priority by strengthening two key efforts: the Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council (FCYC) and the Fayetteville NEXT Commission. FCYC, reactivated in 2014, provides teens from all backgrounds with leadership development, mentorship, and hands-on opportunities to serve their community. The group routinely earns statewide recognition and leads innovative service projects, such as The Period Project, which collected and distributed menstrual hygiene products to students across local schools.

Building on the success of FCYC, the City Council identified the need for similar civic pathways for young adults. In response, it created the Millennial Advisory Commission, now rebranded as Fayetteville NEXT, to advise the city on economic development and social issues affecting early-career residents. The commission connects young adults to civic opportunities, strengthens professional and community networks, and encourages long-term leadership through service on boards, commissions, and other city initiatives.

Together, FCYC and Fayetteville NEXT create a continuum of youth leadership development that supports engagement from adolescence through early adulthood, strengthening Fayetteville’s civic fabric and preparing future generations of leaders.

Engagement Strategies

• Youth leadership councils and commissions
• Mentorship and skill-building opportunities
• Community service projects
• Inclusive recruitment from diverse backgrounds
• Networking and professional development
• Partnerships with schools, community groups, and city departments
• Civic education and participation in city processes

Outcomes:

• FCYC recognized five times in six years as North Carolina’s Most Outstanding Youth Council.
• Successful implementation of high-impact service projects, including The Period Project.
• More than 60 active FCYC members, with all graduating seniors pursuing higher education.
• Expansion of Fayetteville NEXT from 13 to 30 members.
• Increased participation of young adults in civic activities, city advisory roles, and community initiatives.
• Strengthened pipeline of emerging leaders committed to civic service and community improvement.

Resources

• Fayetteville’s AAC Presentation