The Anoka-Hennepin School Board has reviewed a joint powers agreement that would establish The Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth.

The Anoka-Hennepin School Board is expected to vote on the joint powers agreement at its Monday, Sept. 22, meeting.

Brooklyn Park Youth Planning Coordinator Pat Milton said the alliance would work to support the voice of youth.

It would be the "muscle" that keeps the needs of the youth in the forefront and make things happen, she said.

"The overall focus is not to re-invent a new level of government, it's to collaborate efforts pertinent to youth in both cities," Milton said. "It's all people getting together to play a role in this connected concept."

The Brooklyn Bridge would serve as a governing board for four other groups, two from each city.

The Youth Action Crew is comprised of youth who will continually gather information from their peers.

All of the work the youth has done through summits and surveys is part of creating this governing board to support their work, Milton said.

The second group will be a Youth Opportunities Coalition - with adult members from organizations, churches and businesses in the city.

The YOC members will hear the youth voice and develop a plan to take initiatives to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Anoka-Hennepin could join Hennepin County; the cities of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park; the Brooklyn Center, Osseo, Robbinsdale school districts; and Hennepin Technical and North Hennepin Community colleges.

Each member organization would have two directors. Hennepin County will have two additional members, one from each library. The cities of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center would have additional members, one from each police department and recreation and parks department.

The Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center city councils both have resolutions allowing staff to pursue agreements.

Superintendent Roger Giroux said district staff is reviewing the agreement to ensure approval doesn't commit the district to any financial support.

The actual joint powers agreement will also be before the councils and other school boards before the first meeting, scheduled for January.

- Compiled by Natalie Spray

Comment on this story at our website, www.mnsun.com.

The Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center city councils both have resolutions allowing staff to pursue agreements.

Superintendent Roger Giroux said district staff is reviewing the agreement to ensure approval doesn't commit the district to any financial support.

The actual joint powers agreement will also be before the councils and other school boards before the first meeting, scheduled for January.

- Compiled by Natalie Spray

Comment on this story at our website, www.mnsun.com.