1 / 35

The Power of an Invitation: The Why and How of Youth-Adult Partnerships

The Power of an Invitation: The Why and How of Youth-Adult Partnerships. Ben Kirshner University of Colorado, Boulder Family Resiliency Conference April 27, 2011. Agenda. Why Youth-Adult Partnerships? How Do We Get There? Assumptions about youth Structures and practices Ongoing Dilemmas

Download Presentation

The Power of an Invitation: The Why and How of Youth-Adult Partnerships

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. The Power of an Invitation:The Why and How of Youth-Adult Partnerships • Ben Kirshner • University of Colorado, Boulder • Family Resiliency Conference • April 27, 2011

  2. Agenda • Why Youth-Adult Partnerships? • How Do We Get There? • Assumptions about youth • Structures and practices • Ongoing Dilemmas • Conclusion • What will you take back to your work?

  3. Age segregation • Everyday life is organized for people to interact with same-age peers • “…instead of routinely helping adults, children are often involved in specialized child-focused exercises to assemble skills for later entry in mature activities” (Rogoff et al., 2002)

  4. Morelli, Rogoff, & Angelillo, (2003). Cultural variations in young people’s access to work.

  5. Costs of age segregation • Commodification of school learning • Lack of access to decision-making and other community practices

  6. Benton Harbor Youth Leadership Story

  7. Definition Mutual respect Youth culture validated and respected “Youth adult partnership is involving youth and adults in responsible, challenging, and collective action that seeks to benefit an organization or larger community. All individuals in the partnership have the opportunity to engage in planning, decision-making, and action consistent with their own interests and skill” (Zeldin & Collura, 2010) Common goal Commitment to learn from one another Shared decision-making and accountability

  8. Programs Sources Jones & Perkins, 2010; Kirshner, 2007; Pozzoboni, 2011; Zeldin et al., 2008 Retention of older youth Benefits Greater fidelity to mission Youth Adults Generativity Civic competencies Learning from youth Practicing mature roles Efficacy and mattering Changes in assumptions about youth

  9. Human right “All children . . . have the right to: a) articulate their views and express their views freely, b) be heard in all matters affecting them, including policy matters, and c) have their views taken seriously and in accordance with their age and maturity” - Article 12 of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

  10. What does it take to get there?

  11. 1. Assumptions about youth 2. Structures and practices

  12. 1. Assumptions about youth 2. Structures and practices

  13. Youth Teenagers Adolescents

  14. Adolescence as a “stage”

  15. Adolescence as a “stage” “social construction” WEIRD!

  16. Adolescence as a “stage” “social construction” The stories we tell about youth become self-fulfilling prophecies.

  17. Agenda • Why Youth-Adult Partnerships? • How Do We Get there? • Assumptions about youth • Structures and practices • Ongoing Dilemmas • Conclusion • What will you take back to your work?

  18. Structures and practices • Start with an invitation

  19. Structures and practices • Start with an invitation • Gain agreement about the purpose

  20. Structures and practices • Start with an invitation • Gain agreement about the purpose • Create explicit systems of shared decision-making and accountability

  21. Structures and practices • Start with an invitation • Gain agreement about the purpose • Create explicit systems of shared decision-making and accountability • Leverage youths’ “funds of knowledge”

  22. Structures and practices • Start with an invitation • Gain agreement about the purpose • Create explicit systems of shared decision-making and accountability • Leverage youths’ “funds of knowledge” • Model, coach, and fade (apprenticeship learning)

  23. Structures and practices • Start with an invitation • Gain agreement about the purpose • Create explicit systems of shared decision-making and accountability • Leverage youths’ “funds of knowledge” • Model, coach, and fade (apprenticeship learning)

  24. Ongoing dilemmas • Learn from success or from mistakes? • Making time for reciprocal learning • Managing power differences

  25. How will you find out if your organization is ready for youth-adult partnerships? What will you take back to your organization? What have been challenges that you need to address?

  26. Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development Forum for Youth Investment The Search Institute

  27. Thank you!

More Related