Youth and Community

Why is it that in some of the world's most racially segregated and economically disinvested areas, there are young people creating community change? What are some strategies for involving young people in the decisions that affect their lives? What would happen if society viewed young people as positive resources and community builders rather than as social problems and passive recipients of services? This seminar considers the changing context of “youth and community,” models and methods of age-appropriate and culturally-competent practice, roles of youth and adults as collaborators, psychosocial effects of organizational and community initiatives, and future perspectives of research and action in a diverse democratic society. Readings will draw upon diverse professional fields and academic disciplines, such as education, social work, urban planning, public health, and public policy in addition to political science, psychology, sociology, and anthropology.