Why are some youth more engaged?

chinese youth There are adults in our communities who inspire because they lead. You know who they are, and while you might not understand how they make room for what they do in the same 24/7, you respect their efforts. The same is true for young people who often set the trajectory for their civic engagement early in life. To gain insight into what makes these "good kids" do what they do, you might want to check out a new report from the Chapin Hall Center for Children entitled, "Youth Activists in the Age of Postmodern Globalization: Notes from an Ongoing Project" by
Maria de los Angeles Torres.

According to the report, based on interviews with activitist youth in Chicago:

Most youth interviewed have a parent who respects them and listens to their ideas, and are involved in community and school organizations that provide opportunities for engagement. The young people have a keen sense of themselves as youths, even as other social identities such as race, nationality and gender play a role in their sense of self. Combating the negative stereotypes of youth, in particular the stereotypes of Latinos and African Americans, is central to their political activism, since they feel that such stereotypes can silence their political voices. Even though the youth are aware of the world around them, their politics are grounded in local issues, particularly education. They seek equal opportunities for themselves and their communities. They strive to be informed and their political style is one that respects others’ points of view. They hope for a more inclusive, less corrupt government that uses its resources to help others, and a society that includes the voices of youth in meaningful ways.

My work with youth over 20 plus years (including an eight-year stint as publisher of Chicago's citywide teen newspaper, New Expression) confirms these are the topics that get kids engaged. Programs that enable youth to speak out on the issues listed are the ones that can retain these gifted youth, even though they are often uncomfortable to be a part of because they cut so close to the bone on identity issues.

Check out the rest of Chapin's research for thorough, real-world (albeit academic) perspectives on issues facing children and youth today.

Susan Herr

Comments

Hi Susan,

Thanks for the pointer. Have forwarded this post to colleagues at my last staff position, a community center for LGBTQQ youth.

I only worked there three years, but I can attest to the fact that today's youth are anything but apathetic. Just the opposite! They are hungry to become engaged, but often are often feel blocked by adults and other institutional barriers that don't recognize their potential. As the report states, the impact of having a parent (or guardian or other appropriate adult figure) validating a youth's beliefs and interests is huge.

But what I came away from during those few years is that the secret to engaging "Youth Activists in the Age of Postmodern Globalization," has very little do with changing the behavior of youth, but everything to do with changing the behavior of we as adults. During this transition from childhood to adulthood, it is important that we too begin to transition how we define our relationships with young people. The movement from parent to ally is difficult for many, for it comes with a sense of personal loss. Yet there is so much else to be gained if we just put a little extra faith in your youth, for it is true, they are the hope for our future.

Peace,

Gayle

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