The Development of Youth Voice for Adolescents Engaged in Community Service and Social Action

• In Event: Listening to Youth Voices in Research, Education, and Social Action

Abstract

This study explores the development of youth voice for high school students participating in PeaceJam, a community-based social action program. The research uses an ethnographic approach and focuses on how students experience, express, and act upon youth voice. Findings indicate that PeaceJam participants actively engage in community issues such as environmental initiatives, education, and human rights. Challenges such as age discrimination were noted, yet students remained optimistic about their potential to affect change. This study highlights how PeaceJam fosters socioemotional growth and sociopolitical activism, contributing to a critical and informed generation of youth capable of inspiring positive social change. This research suggests that embracing and supporting youth voice through such programs can significantly influence personal and community development.

Authors

• Cesar Briones, University of Pittsburgh

• Jeffrey N. Jones, Western Michigan University