Youth Leadership Development

The Freechild Project believes that while youth leadership development has long been seen as a tool for manipulation of youth power, there is possibility and reality for young people becoming powerful, engaged leaders for social change.

Point to Ponder

"You wouldn't take a sixteen-year-old, give them the keys to a car, and let them loose on city streets to 'learn how to drive' - and we shouldn't do that with community leadership, either." - Unknown
 

The Freechild Project has identified the following local and national youth leadership development organizations and opportunities.

Center for Third World Organizing Programs for Young Activists of Color (Oakland, CA) - The Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO, pronounced "C-2") is a racial justice organization dedicated to building a social justice movement led by people of color. 

Lideres Youth Leadership Summit (Washington, DC) - This National Council of La Raza program brings together Latino students, youth leaders and activists from community and campus-based organizations throughout the country and takes place in conjunction with the NCLR conference.

Organizing for Social Change (Chicago, IL) - Mixed age participants learn about topics including understanding the relations of power, building coalitions, recruiting leaders, the economic context of organizing, choosing issues, using direct action, researching for campaigns, working with religious groups and unions, surviving the long haul, fundraising and developing winning strategies.

Sacred Mountain Learning Center (Gallup, NM) - Developed by the National Indian Youth Leadership Project, this program travels around the nation to train Native youth through a living service learning curricula. Youth have done oral history projects with elders, renovated buildings at the Learning Center, volunteered at the Zoo and more projects of their own design.

Social Action and Leadership School for Activists (Washington, DC) - SALSA is a skills training program to strengthen community activism and engaged citizenship.  Classes in the Washington, D.C. area focus on scores of topics in nonprofit management, communications, fundraising, direct action, and career development. 

Peace Jam (Nationwide) - PeaceJam is an international education program that gathers the idealism, experience, and energy of high school youth, their teachers, and community leaders, and combines that with leading Nobel Peace Laureates who work personally with the youth to pass on the spirit, skills, and leadership of the future.

Institute for Community Leadership (Kent, WA) - ICL works with schools, community organizations, and governmental programs to empower individuals and organizations to create a vision of a more just nation and world and to develop and sustain within themselves the strength, hope, leadership, relationships, and organizational integrity to bring about that vision.

The Center for Teen Empowerment (Boston, MA) - The mission of the Center for Teen Empowerment is to realize the potential of inner-city youth to build healthier and safer communities and schools. Teen Empowerment hires and trains urban youth, including at risk youth, to be community organizers. Our programs are based on the belief that urban youth represent a valuable, untapped resource and can significantly contribute to the rejuvenation of neighborhoods and local institutions.

Youth Leadership Support Network (Takoma Park, MD) - The Youth Leadership Support Network is a violence prevention, arts, education, media and training network based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to empower youth to express themselves and have a voice in society through intergenerational and diverse leadership opportunities and civic engagement.

Youth as Resources (Nationwide) - Youth and adults working together to support programs that young people design and carry out. A great opportunity for young people to address social problems and contribute to significant community change.

Youth Action Net (Website) - A website dedicated to supporting and nurturing youth as leaders through opportunities to share knowledge and creativity and networking. Also includes listings of youth-related volunteer, education and job opportunities throughout the world working with and for young people in action. Supported by the International Youth Foundation.

Youth Leadership Institute (San Francisco, CA) - Advocates youth service and leadership throughout government, non-profit and community programs.

National Indian Youth Leadership Project (Gallup, NM) - NIYLP's mission is to engage Native youth in challenging activities and meaningful experiences in the community and the natural world, as well as through academic, artistic and athletic performance. It is also to honor Native youth by preparing them for whole and healthy lives as capable, contributing and caring members of their family, community, tribe, and nation through traditional teachings and values.
 

Publications

Clearinghouse for Youth Service Bibliography This is a huge reference area, and at the bottom it contains links to others.

Looking for Young People, Listening for Youth Voice [in Nat'l Service] John Beilenson, Social Policy magazine.