YLC Outlines Vision for Lake Oswego

Advocating for Diversity, Agency, and Improved Transportation Options for Non-Drivers

September 28, 2024 – LAKE OSWEGO CITY HALL

The Youth Leadership Council’s first formal meeting took place in the Council Chambers, where members met with City Manager Martha Bennet, who led them through a goal-setting exercise practiced by the actual Lake Oswego City Council. In this exercise, members charted their vision for the future of the city, broken into three categories: long-term concepts, medium-term goals, and short-term projects. The members’ combined concepts, goals, and projects were then viewed and debated by the entire group, who, taking the role of the City Council, voted on whether they wanted to include each initiative in their overall vision. Ultimately, the YLC narrowed down the field of 70-odd initiatives to a shortlist of 18, which they finalized at their meeting on October 14th.

In the final 2025 Preferred Future, Goals, and Initiatives Memo, the Youth Leadership Council emphasizes their core values of diversity and agency: in 2040, they envision Lake Oswego as a “diverse, cohesive community that everyone is able to engage in.” They suggest seven key initiatives to get there: implementing equitable accommodations, improving public transportation, cultivating a sense of agency among residents, nurturing a “kaleidoscopic” community identity, and improving emergency preparedness. Throughout the rest of the year, the YLC will continue to focus on each of these initiatives, taking the first steps toward making their preferred future reality.

The full text of the Preferred Future, Goals, and Initiatives Memo can be read below. It is also linked as a PDF in the sidebar to the right.

Our Preferred Future

In 2040, Lake Oswego is a diverse, cohesive community that everyone is able to engage in, whether it be through attending cultural festivals, supporting grassroots initiatives, or visiting one of the many recreational spaces dispersed across the city.

Featuring beautiful parks and greenery, strong schools, flourishing small businesses, well-maintained public and accessible facilities, and delicious restaurants – Lake Oswego prioritizes the happiness and health of its residents.

By supporting the well-being of citizens, whether it be mental or physical, our community prioritizes taking action. Creating affordable housing for diverse people to inhabit, fostering sustainable practices to help the planet, creating resilience among residents in

the face of natural disasters, nurturing agency within citizens through public engagement of city activities, and creating more transportation opportunities for non-drivers are only a handful of the methods the city employs.

Overall, Lake Oswego is invested in raising exceptional, welcoming, and inclusive citizens that enrich the city for years to come.

Strategic Goals & Initiatives

Implement accommodations that improve equitable access to community resources

Support organizations that bring awareness to the importance of increased accommodations for those with disabilities and designate resources to improving the City’s accommodation offerings.

Invest in systems and organizations that support the foundational well-being of community members

Develop a strategy to provide more accessible mental health services in the community.
Offer extensive mental health training for Lake Oswego employees. Aim to equip employees with the skills to recognize the signs of mental health crises and promote early intervention.

Improve non-automotive transportation options

Map out the entire city and identify key areas that require sidewalks, where pedestrians have the most risk when walking/biking on the sides of streets. Implement a plan regarding city funds on when we can begin building those additions.

Cultivate a sense of agency among residents through information sharing, public engagement, and support of grassroots initiatives

Create an app for the city website making it easier to navigate and find information about events.
Create more opportunities for people to benefit the city, volunteer opportunities, community service, etc.
Engage with residents to ensure everyone understands the city’s goals and knows how they can contribute to achieving them.
Brainstorm and begin to formulate programs for a wider range of young people (beyond high school), ex. interning after graduating from high school, youth involvement programs for middle schoolers, etc.

Nurture a kaleidoscopic community identity through investment in gathering spaces, small businesses, events, and art

Host more community events, particularly those highlighting specific cultural identities or holidays.
Paint murals with local diverse artists that can spread their message and their culture throughout Lake Oswego!
Invest in maintenance of our existing parks and public spaces; specifically, public restrooms.
Increase support for minority owned businesses by investing in their endeavors.
Support the city’s small businesses through job fairs and providing grants.
Promote local organizations and small businesses through programming that highlights the experiences and contributions of various groups.

Strengthen resilience and emergency preparedness within the community