YouthWorks: Building Communities
In this session, learn how implementing youth-led projects in your community is
beneficial for youth, as well as the community as a whole. What does a youth-led
project look like? Who is in charge? Are such projects worthwhile? Infusing youth in
projects – especially community projects – fosters citizenship, builds social capital,
enhances human capital, develops young leaders, encourages entrepreneurship, and
contributes to social and economic change.
A strong example of such a project is the YouthWorks Project. This session includes a
summary of YouthWorks, and a description of the principles and strategies for
involving youth in communities. The YouthWorks Project builds partnerships between
local youth and adult community members whereby youth are given tools, knowledge,
and support to take leadership roles in community service and civic engagement.
Through an asset mapping experience, teens identify and document local
opportunities for young people – including jobs, job training, health and mental health
services, educational and recreational programs. This process invariably leads to the
identification of gaps between the opportunities and resources youth need and the
opportunities and resources that currently exist in the community. To address these
gaps, Youth Engagement Task Forces are created in which youth and adult
community members work together to find ways to meet a prioritized set of
fundamental needs.
The extensive YouthWorks Curriculum includes civic engagement and communitybased dynamic learning opportunities that are personalized to match youth
interest. Working among community and business leaders in identifying youth
opportunities, and participating on a Youth Engagement Task Force provides avenues
through which youth may identify potential mentors, employers, and internship
supervisors. Job Shadowing and Internships enable youth to experience the world of
work and to discover the course they need to chart in order to get where they want to
go in life.
YouthWorks offers many benefits to adolescents who are exploring potential life
paths. Communities benefit as their youth are better equipped to assume meaningful
roles as adults and to contribute to the well-being of their home communities.
Our presenters:
Frannie Siegel, PhD
Associate Director
Illinois Rural Families Program
Lisa Bouillion-Diaz, PhD
Extension Specialist
4-H, Youth Development