Core Principles for Engaging Young People in Community Change

December 22, 2020

This report outlines 8 principles of engaging youth in social change. It begins with tips for designing a strong outreach strategy and ends with advice on creating opportunities for sustained access and influence. At each stop along the way, readers learn key ideas, real-world implementation details and reflection questions.

The end goal is simple: Help organizations enable all youth — especially those least like to succeed without help — to drive powerful and positive community change.

The principles can be implemented in a wide range of organizations, including schools, youth organizations or community centers that want to strengthen their commitment to youth leadership, or community-change focused organzations or coalitions that want to strengthen their commitment to youth involvement.

At the foundation of the paper is the idea that ‘young people and adults working together to create the necessary conditions for the successful development of themselves, their peers, their families and their communities’ will lead to benefits for both the young people and the communities.

Read the report to learn:

  • Why communities need youth change-makers.
  • 3 strengths of youth who are engaged in social change.
  • Why young people must have authentic decision-making power.
  • Why compensating youth for their contributions is important.

Organizations and communities can take the 8 principles identified in this report and apply them to any strategy or structure. They’re flexible – and simple – building blocks that add up to a solid framework for supporting youth-supported change.

Download the PDF here.

Chapters: