Lessons in Youth Engagement: A Report from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s 75th Anniversary Seminar

We are delighted to share some of the lessons learned about youth engagement at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s 75th Anniversary seminar, Youth Engagement: A Celebration Across Time and Culture. Coordinated by the Innovation Center, the seminar brought together a diverse community of youth activists and their adult partners from across history, culture, and social movements to share, explore and build on the lessons and experiences of youth engagement from the past to the present

Young people from marginalized communities leading social change isn’t new, but part of a long and powerful history.

Youth leadership is nothing new. The civil rights movement and the American revolution were both fueled by young activists. While many are hailing the increase in programs that meaningfully engage young people traditionally lacking power and access, we must not forgot that this engagement by marginalized groups is not new but an old, wise and powerful practice. In reality, it is the mainstream leadership models that are catching up with a long history of oppressed communities working for change. And, it is the mainstream youth programming and media that is catching up on the progress made and the potential inherent in engaging disenfranchised young people in different ways. The challenge for the current generation of youth workers is to create opportunities for youth from marginalized groups to unearth and explore this history, uncover its lessons, and recreate strategies and tools for leadership that are meaningful in their lives today.

Being an “elder” has nothing to do with age and everything to do with having lessons, experiences and a willingness to share.

To quote a Chinese proverb, “to know the road ahead, ask those that are coming back.” Age does not define who is an elder; elders are simply those who have been down a path ahead and have something to teach as they come back. Young people engaged in social change have their own valuable experiences and lessons to offer to partners and allies of all ages. One elder admitted that before the sharing of her story of leadership, she was nervous because she worried that the group would not want to hear her story. But she found a willing, interesting and perceptive audience. Inspired by a conversation with a youth participant from her community, she is now interested in finding space for other elders to share their stories with the young people in the community. Another participant stated “The fact that not only should we hear the voices of the youth, but we need to physically, verbally, and mentally acknowledge the value of their voices and the value of their strength in sharing..”

Changing the world begins with the individual

As participants shared the secrets of their success, it became clear that personal qualities and characteristics were paramount. Passion, commitment, creativity, determination, perseverance, vision, hope and trust were all “qualities for life” mentioned over and over in small and large groups. Some participants spoke of the importance of “nourishing yourself” and “personal cultivation” as key strategies for social change.

Such a large focus on these personal qualities requires us to think about how the field of youth development and engagement supports the building and strengthening of these qualities in youth and adults. More than simply a way to creatively express oneself, art can be a catalyst for change. Participants spoke of the role of music and art as international languages that bind people together and help cross boundaries. One of the elders, Ron Ellison, spoke of the importance of music in exploring his personal and civic identity and in struggling with civil rights issues as he grew up and played music in the projects of Chicago in the 1950s. As one person urged, the arts and other forms of creative expression can help you “paint your purpose and your intention.”

“Families” of choice or by birth support individuals to lead change

Family and community, partnerships and collaborations are all crucial to supporting youth engagement and positive social change. These groups, families of birth or choice, and partnerships of shared vision, all emerged as nurturing and challenging forces for positive change. Bringing individual passions, commitment, and gifts together in a group helped strengthen individuals, define dreams and propel action forward. In different ways people spoke of the culture they created with others held together by values, vision, past experience and commitment. “People want to be drawn into a group, in order to make a difference, to equalize power and to transform conflict into healing intentional relationships,” explained one participant.

While the importance of joint work, family support and collaboration is not new, what was particularly important for the participants in this area was the emotional support, shared values, and vision that groups brought to the individual. This aspect of group work and collaboration is often relegated to secondary status as other more analytical work around stakeholder analysis, marketing and power sharing is accomplished. The seminar participants gave us a strong reminder that group work is about people, their hearts, their hopes, and their dreams.

Effective social change requires the ability to work within and across culture.

Doing the work of youth engagement for social change requires both youth and adults to cross many cultural boundaries - whether it is between ethnic cultures, the culture of youth and adults, Western and non-Western cultures, or rural and urban cultures. Participants spoke of the importance of knowing their roots, but also knowing how to appreciate and respect others and to be able to shift back and forth between cultures.

It was also important for many to clarify for themselves what is powerful in their own cultures and those they live in, but also what is oppressive. As one participant said, I “struggled with the cultural values I was raised with and new culture values… I had to overcome my own cultural issues first before I could deal with more external issues….In order for me to fit into the western culture and educational structure I have to use their way of thinking, speaking, etc. but in dealing with cross-cultures I need to figure out how to assimilate and shift back and forth.”