Critical Youth Development: An Ecosystem

• In Event: Pushing Out—Reaching In: Multidirectional Influences, Adolescents, Their Neighborhoods

Abstract

: This paper presents a Critical Youth Participatory Action Research study on youth leadership development and how educators, community leaders, and organizations can approach and understand youth leadership development programs through an ecosystem model. Working with 12 high school students from throughout the United States who have been disaffecting by a youth leadership development program, this study uncovered what contributed to their negative experiences and what they would design if allowed to create their program. Insights from this study also contributed to the formation of the Youth Leadership Development Ecosystem, which can help communities understand what impacts youth experience in their programs. The five ecosystem components include Values & Goals, Transparency & Relationships, Community Stakeholders, Support & Resources, and Staff.

Author

• Trisha A. Swed, Independent Researcher