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

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

4. 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?

5. 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)

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

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

12. Benton Harbor Youth Leadership Story

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. What does it take to get there?

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

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

19. Youth Teenagers Adolescents

20. Adolescence as a “stage”

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

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

25. 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?

26. Structures and practices • Start with an invitation

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

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

29. 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”

30. 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)

31. 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)

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

33. 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?

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

35. Thank you!