Global Cases of Critical Youth Empowerment in Action

• In Event: Global Perspectives on Youth Enablement Through Education

Abstract

In an era of interlocking global pandemics, it is critical that we understand how to effectively put into practice theories of justice-oriented education. Around the globe, youth programs have utilized the Critical Youth Empowerment (CYE) model to guide emancipatory empowerment work. Our examination of five youth programs that fully utilized CYE shed light on promising practices for engaging disenfranchised youth in emancipatory empowerment; we also unpack multiple challenges in reaching the critical dimensions of youth empowerment and the importance of integrating cultural identity work through the process. We propose in the discussion section several paths forward in building on this work in theory and in practice to foster critically engaged and justice-oriented youth.

Authors

• Louise B. Jennings, Colorado State University

• Ross Atkinson, Colorado State University - Fort Collins

• Khuc Thi Tra Phan, Colorado State University - Fort Collins