Young people have catalyzed and fueled social change movements throughout history and around the world. Their contributions of inspiration, creativity, and public work have laid the foundation for modern approaches to community-based problem solving, civic participation, and a range of social justice efforts that are cornerstones of our democracy. The story of youth engagement is told in many contexts: The anti-war, civil rights, immigrant rights, and indigenous language movements are rich with examples of young people who served as crucial actors in creating change.

This past year the Innovation Center was fortunate to work with the W.K Kellogg foundation to create an opportunity for intergeneration dialogue among youth and adult activists. (A paper I wrote framing the event: Youth Engagement Across Time and Culture also contributed to this article — click here to access an electronic copy or contact us to order a paper copy.) The result of this work, the W.K Kellogg 75th Anniversary seminar, Youth Engagement: A Celebration Across Time and Culture, brought together youth and adult leaders from across cultures and social movements who explored the lessons and experience of youth engagement. Participants used a multi-generational lens to reflect on and celebrate youth engagement over time, and deepen their understanding of contemporary cutting-edge work and opportunities to strengthen future youth engagement. The event provided an unprecedented opportunity to evoke cross-generational, culturally diverse wisdom, ideas, experience, and energy that generated meaning and action.

While the seminar was a wonderful event in itself, we hope that its value will continue to grow. Youth engagement can only reach its full potential as an agent of change in a multicultural, multigenerational society if it becomes more intentional, better documented, and more strongly supported. As youth and adults share lessons learned, and create visions for new engagement and growth, they will refine strategies for youth engagement such that it can become an essential, effective part of the fabric of young lives and social change movements across cultures, classes, and generations.

This newsletter highlights some of the experience, stories and results of Youth Engagement: A Celebration Across Time and Culture. I hope that these stories provide you with inspiration as well as concrete ideas to strengthen your own work