1. Learn the names of the youth in your neighborhood. Call them by name every time you see them.
2. Show youth respect through active listening.
3. Look youth in the eye and smile several times a day.
4. Hold a neighborhood discussion with youth about community issues and values. Brainstorm ways to make your community more youth friendly.
5. Work with youth to create a neighborhood garden, a neighborhood playground or a park.
6. Coordinate neighborhood residents to provide safe places where young people can go after school if they would be home alone or if they feel unsafe.
7. Sponsor creative activities and events that help people get to know their neighbors.
8. In private, ask youth how things are going at home. Ask if you can help in any way.
9. Ask youth how they are doing in school. Praise improvement even if it is slight.
10. Tell youth about yourself and what is important to you. Share your experiences, dreams and goals. Ask youth to share something about themselves as well.

Information adapted from The Five Promises Checklist. The Five Promises Checklist is a tangible way for communities to ensure positive development in youth. It empowers parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, childcare workers, troop leaders and neighbors to secure and combine resources from all these systems as needed by their youth. To find out more about The Five Promises Checklist or America's Promise visit www.americaspromise.org.

For resources on how to implement The Five Promises Checklist in your community, please contact the United Way of King County Youth Connection at 206.461.5022 or 206.461.5014, or at youthconnect@uwkc.org

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