At Connecticut Children’s Childhood Prosperity Lab (The Lab), we believe the best ideas come directly from the people they’re meant to serve. Since 2015, we’ve partnered with communities to create programs and services that reflect their strengths, interests, and priorities. This spring, we celebrated an exciting milestone: co-designing an afterschool program alongside youth in Hartford’s North Promise Zone.
A Collaborative Effort Between Community-Focused Programs
This initiative brought together two programs within the Office for Community Child Health: the Childhood Prosperity Lab and the Injury Prevention Center (IPC). The idea for “tabletop game day” emerged from a North Hartford Ascend Community Conversation, where local voices emphasized the need for more meaningful after-school opportunities for youth. Together, the Lab and the IPC partnered to co-design a program that centers youth perspectives from the start.
Why Involve Youth?
Youth bring unique perspectives, creativity, and energy that enrich every step of the design process. Engaging youth ages 12 to 16 in shaping the “tabletop game day” program reminded us how important it is to listen to their voices. This program isn’t just about playing games; it’s about building friendships, fostering social connections, and creating a welcoming space where young people feel safe, valued and supported.
Creating an Inviting Space for Youth Voices
We organized the co-design sessions to be fun, welcoming, and accessible. With a locally catered meal, a $50 gift card, and encouragement to bring friends, we aimed to make participation easy and enjoyable. Providing tools like sticky notes, markers, and planning interactive activities helped youth express their ideas in ways that felt comfortable and engaging.
What Youth Shared With Us
Youth shared clear and inspiring ideas about what they want in an afterschool space: a safe, relaxed environment where they can connect with friends, enjoy games, and access community resources. Their insights are already guiding the development of the program. Importantly, several youth chose to stay involved by attending follow-up community conversations, showing their commitment to contributing to their community’s future.
The Power of Youth Engagement
Involving youth in designing programs builds trust, amplifies their leadership, and ensures that programmatic activities truly reflect what matters most to them. Co-design shifts the narrative from creating programs for youth to building them with youth—and that makes all the difference.
Looking Ahead
With youth voices at the center, the Injury Prevention Center is moving forward to bring the tabletop game day program to life, guided by the valuable feedback gathered during the co-design sessions. When we partner with youth as leaders and creators, we build programs that celebrate their strengths and support their growth. We’re excited to continue this journey with the young people shaping the future of their community.
If you’re interested in learning more about co-designing with children, youth, and families, please reach out to us at childhoodprosperitylab [at] connecticutchildrens.org.