Youth shared values summary

1. YOUTH SHARED VALUES
Over 750 area youth participated in Phase 1 of the IGT process through community conversations and surveys. The
following six topics and summary values emerged as the dominant themes expressed by participants themselves. The
list below is arranged in alphabetical order.
COMMUNITY & NEIGHBORHOODS
Youth value the diversity and friendliness of people here.
 “It’s nice that the city is so diverse because it makes the city more unique.”
 “I think the community should have more people helping and supporting each other.”
 “Our community has compassion, creativity, cooperation, and communication.”
EDUCATION
Youth value high quality K-12 schools and the University of Arizona.
 “We should have better high schools because our futures depend on it.”
 “Schools should get more money so that they can have sports teams, music classes, etc.”
 “We need better technology and equipment in our schools.”
 “The University of Arizona is a great university and it brings a lot of people to Tucson.”
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Youth value the desert landscape, local parks and sustainability efforts.
 “The parks should be cleaner and there should be more of them.”
 “Awesome sunsets and mountains!”
 “We should limit our water use, recycle more, and use solar energy.”
SAFETY & QUALITY OF LIFE
Youth value the safety and quality of life available to people in their community.
 “I would like to change Tucson into a clean place.”
 “The graffiti should be cleaned up because it makes our community ugly.”
 “There should be more street lights so that I feel safer.”
 “I don’t like gangs because it gets youth in trouble, and the violence makes the community less safe.”
SOCIAL & CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT
Youth value activities and events to participate in.
 “There should be more things to do after school for teens.”
 “It would be nice to have more parks and pools and places to go to hang out.”
 “There should be more community centers.”
TRANSPORTATION
Youth value well-maintained roads and access to a variety of transportation options, including public transit and
bicycling.
 “I want more public transportation to all outer-lying areas of Tucson.”
 “The buses should be cleaner and safer.”
 “The pot holes in the roads are dangerous.”
Contact camila@imaginegreatertucson.org to learn more and get involved.