This article appeared in Volume 3, No. 5 October 2002 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Rural Schools Participate in Youth Civic Engagement Initiative Rural Trust Announces Affiliate Campaign Rural Datebook GreaterNET Combats Missouri Teacher Shortage w/ Technology News Briefs 2002 Youth Directing Change Institute Leader Sees Growing Trend in Youth Civic Engagement First Person: Saying Goodbye to Lily School Grants Watch Publications of Note About Rural Roots Roots Archives

What does the Innovation Center do?

The Innovation Center is an international organization that works to unleash the potential of individuals, organizations, and communities to engage together in creating a just and equitable society. We provide a variety of services. We seek out innovative new practices in youth development and promote them; we provide training and technical assistance to communities and organizations; we sponsor peer-learning and peer-exchanges; we provide guidance on youth governance and development of youth-adult partnerships; assist with evaluation and research; and we give funds directly to community groups.

How was the Innovation Center founded?

The Innovation Center was established three years ago. Originally, the Center was a division of the National 4-H Council, but now we are a separate organization affiliated with the Tides Center, which serves as our fiscal agent.

What are the trends in youth development?

The greatest trend in youth development right now is that we are seeing an increasing interest in engaging young people in meaningful civic engagement activities that really make a difference. We are also seeing more youth-directed work rather than adults just facilitating work for youth.

Who are the gurus in the field?

The gurus in the youth development really are the young people in the community. The real knowledge rests with them.

What organizations and publications are good resources for people who want to learn more about youth development?

Resources about youth development really depend on the audience. For young people and their allies, I'd recommended checking out the Web site of "At the Table" (http://www.atthetable.org). "At the Table" is a clearinghouse of resources on youth in decision-making, governance and community involvement. Youth can learn how to get involved, find out about conferences and specific organizations, review surveys and polls and participate in online discussions. Engaging youth in developing policy and decision-making in local communities is what "At the Table" is all about.

For teachers and community members, I'd recommend investigating the work of the Forum for Youth Investment and the International Youth Foundation. The Forum for Youth Investment helps organizations in the U.S. invest in youth for positive change. Mainly, they promote more youth development and policy development. The International Youth Foundation's work spans over 60 countries and tries to improve the conditions and prospects for young people in their local communities. Learning about youth development from organizations that have been doing it for years is a good place for teachers and community members to start.

There are general publications on youth development out there, and more are starting. Youth Today is a newspaper for a general audience interested in youth development. The CYD Journal is a quarterly publication that is geared more for adults working to promote youth development such as youth and community workers, educators, administrators, researchers, and policymakers. A brand new academic journal that will soon be published is the Journal of Positive Youth Development. This new journal will combine youth development research and practice. I have been invited to serve as one of the editors.

Are there any days, weeks or months dedicated to national youth development?

There really aren't any, because there isn't an organized youth policy in the U.S. so there is no organized movement dedicated to youth development.

Are there any countries that do have organized youth movements that we should look to for guidance?

Yes, internationally there are several places that do have organized youth movements. For example, the United Nations hosts a Triennial World Youth Summit. Also, the European Union has national youth commissions.

How do youth development initiatives benefit society at large?

The answer on how youth benefit is easy: they learn new skills, get connections, and are able to understand the roles and responsibilities of living in a democratic society. The larger revelation is that youth development positively influences adults, too. People don't often realize this.

A report that we did with the University of Wisconsin, Madison, sheds some light on how youth development affects adults. The report, Youth in Decision-Making: A Study on the Impacts of Youth on Adults and Organizations, releases three new findings on youth development that really have not been discussed before. We found that: (1) young people enrich organizations' discussions; (2) young people are strong contributors to boards; and (3) better decisions are made when youth are involved in decision making. We hope that these findings make people realize that youth development activities have a greater impact than influencing youth themselves, but that they can also foster substantial change in other areas.

What advice would to give to others who want to get involved with youth development?

The main advice I'd give is to look around at local nonprofits that already exist and investigate the opportunity to use an existing organization to partner with youth to further promote that organization's mission. I would recommend that adults start working with young people and help them start programs. In every place where adults meet, I'd challenge them to ask themselves: Are young people here? What could young people do in a decision-making process? What avenues would they choose? How can I get them involved? Then, adults can start to really see the change that can happen when they utilize the talents of young people.

Youth Resources

Publications

• Youth Today, (202) 785-0764, http://www.youthtoday.org
• CYD Journal, (617) 522-3435 (General Information), (866) 293-4636 (Subscriptions), http://www.cydjournal.org
• Youth in Decision-Making: A Study on the Impacts of Youth on Adults and Organizations
  The research was published in partnership with the National 4-H Council, University of Wisconsin Extension, and the Youth in Governance task force of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents. Available in electronic format only as a free download

• American Youth Policy Forum, (202) 775-9731, http://www.aypf.org
• Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development, (301) 961-2837, http://www.theinnovationcenter.org, http://www.atthetable.org
• Do Something, (212) 523-1175, http://www.dosomething.org
• The Forum for Youth Investment, (301) 270-6250, http://www.forumforyouthinvestment.org
• International Youth Forum, (410 347-1500), http://www.iyfnet.org
• National 4-H Council, (301) 961-2972, http://www.fourhcouncil.edu
• National Youth Leadership Council, Strategic Youth Initiatives, (651) 631-3672, http://www.nylc.org
• Points of Light Foundation, (202) 729-8000, http://www.pointsoflight.org
• What Kids Can Do, Inc., (401) 247-7665, http://www.whatkidscando.org
• Youth at the United Nations, (212) 963-2791, http://www.un.org/youth
• YouthBuild USA, (617) 623-9900, http://www.youthbuild.org
• Youth on Board, (617) 623-9900 ext. 1242, http://www.youthonboard.org
• YouthNOISE, http://www.youthnoise.com
• Youth Venture, (703) 527-8300 ext. 324, http://www.youthventure.org