The Northborough Youth Commission approved a package of four goals aimed at guiding the commission's work on youth and family well‑being.

The commission, chaired by Erica Ziger, voted to adopt goals that commit the board to represent youth and family voices, ground its approach in community engagement across platforms, use evidence‑based data and resources, and assist with outreach at town events. Commissioners moved and seconded a motion to approve the goals and members voted in favor.

Why it matters: The adopted goals set the commission's priorities for outreach and program guidance and provide a framework commissioners can use when recruiting new members or evaluating future program work.

Commission chair Erica Ziger read the four goals aloud during the meeting and the commission discussed small wording edits before voting. Commissioners debated phrasing for the community engagement point — whether to list specific methods such as focus groups and surveys or to keep the language broader — and agreed on wording that uses "various platforms" to encompass multiple outreach methods.

Commissioners also revised language that refers to sources for program design: the final wording commits the commission to "utilize data and resources from Health and Human Services and other evidence‑based data to support programs that enhance the well‑being of Northborough's families and youth." Several members suggested alternatives such as "evidence‑based sources," and the group settled on the current phrasing.

After the edits were read back, a commission member moved to approve the goals. A second was offered and the commission voted by voice; the chair declared the motion approved.

The commission instructed staff to circulate the finalized goals with meeting minutes and to use them in outreach for two planned vacancies on the commission.

The vote: the motion to approve the proposed goals passed by voice vote with all commissioners present recorded as in favor.

The commission closed the agenda item and moved on to recruitment and outreach planning.