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Learning Together: Youth-Adult Partnerships for Change The 2002 Youth Directing Change Institute  From the Rural School and Community Trust National Youth Council In June 2002, 50 young people and 25 adults from 23 states gathered for "Youth Directing Change," an intensive three-day institute to discuss the challenges and possibilities of revitalizing rural schools and communities. The institute, held in Nebraska City, Nebraska was designed by the Rural School and Community Trust's 18-member National Youth Council. The meeting emphasized the group's belief that social change is most powerful when youth and adults collaborate. Five focus areas explored the role of youth in environmental sustainability, economic development, local and state policy, media and technology, and the arts and cultural heritage. Activities at the institute reflected the goals of the Youth Council; youth-adult teams led all formal activities. Representatives from Youth on Board, the Food Project, and Community Partnerships with Youth led various training exercises that demonstrated youth-adult partnerships with clear success at local, regional, and national levels. Participants spent numerous hours together, sharing strategies and outlining action steps in the five focus areas. For example, issues discussed in the local and state policy focus group included:
"I've learned a great deal about environmental issues from this focus group. I also gained great ideas for my classroom from fellow teachers who attended this institute," said Lisa Carder, a journalism teacher from Albion, Nebraska. The arts and cultural heritage focus group dealt with the perceived devaluation of art and cultural heritage in rural America. When asked why the arts appear to be "expendable subjects instead of life skills," answers dealt with a lack of empirical testing, little exposure about the value of art, and problems the arts have with stereotypically defined sex and gender roles. The group brainstormed possible ways to eliminate the social barriers the arts and cultural heritage face. The National Youth Council will continue to review the findings of the focus groups as it develops a strategy on how to support young people in their community building and activist efforts. Each participant left the institute with practical "next steps" to address the issues discussed in the various focus groups. "Listening to the stories of others, their approach to problems, and progress made in their communities has empowered me to be a more involved activist in my own community," commented one participant. Sarabeth Perez, from Greenfield, California, said: "I was refreshed with the many techniques and ideas that I could apply when I get back to my community. I have a better understanding what steps I need to take to be successful. This truly was a great experience." Colt Kraus of Taylor, Nebraska summed up the participants' reactions: "Probably the most important thing that I've learned is that kids and adults can -- and need to -- work together to get things accomplished." Events | Services | Newsroom | Contact Us | Search © 2003 The Rural School and Community Trust 
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