Youth-Driven Solutions for Civic Empowerment: Insights From University-Based Initiatives

• In Event: Friday Roundtable Session 4:55 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Youth- and Community-Centered Research: Building Relationships for Empowerment and Racial Justice (Table 5)

Abstract

Closing civic empowerment gaps requires quality civic preparation in schools and other youth-serving spaces, especially in under-resourced communities. A key strategy in providing quality civic preparation is to support youth-driven problem identification and solution development. Our paper helps bring an understanding to these interrelated challenges. By employing critical reflection as a research method, we consider our experience with two university-based efforts to expand youth civic empowerment, and identify three cross-cutting issues relevant to the success of this strategy: time and timing, negotiating students’ personal commitments, and balancing adult and student expertise.

Authors

• Keri Davenport, University of Pennsylvania

• Thalia Fuentes, University of Pennsylvania

• Rand Quinn, University of Pennsylvania