We Are In A Youth Development State of Emergency

With the onset of COVID, the murder of George Floyd, the ensuing global unrest, and the surfacing of societal and cultural inequities, young people more than ever have been isolated, ignored and marginalized. If there had never been a “place at the table” for young people before COVID, there certainly is not one during this time. “Leaders” have been wandering aimlessly trying to create the illusion of leadership – when there were no answers to be had. Adults were not adept at adapting during the pandemic and young people knew it.  All of this has exacerbated the trauma and social-emotional deficits that youth in general and marginalized youth in particular suffer.

A generation ago, we were at a similar place. We were in the age of “prevention programming” struggling to address the negative behaviors of young people without addressing their developmental needs. With the advent of the “youth development movement” youth workers and caring adults were trained in youth development as a practice.  Youth development became the cornerstone of practice in virtually every youth program, organization, and agency.

Two decades of advancement in the field of youth development have resulted in best practices, professional development for youth workers to improve their competencies. This elevation of the work and quality of services provided, resulted in improved developmental outcomes for youth. For a time, there were also improvements in prevention outcomes with decrease in negative youth behaviors (violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy).

Many of the entities and agents of change have been retired or phased out. Although leadership has changed, the demographics of the city have changed, and the funding streams have changed, the nature and needs of our young people have not changed and the problems are solvable; the challenges can be met. The needs of our youth are the same and the field of youth development is further ahead with this new generation of practitioners.

To be certain, there are many organizations doing excellent work in our communities as well as a new breed of organizations focused on change and “re-imagining” how we work with young people. These efforts will continue to reach young people who are predisposed to participate in opportunities to become contributing members of society. If we truly want to facilitate change, we must now reach those young people and families outside of the matrix.

CALL TO ACTION

What We Must Do: Learn, Connect, & Practice

1. Learn (Knowledge)

   • Get certified in Advancing Youth Development (AYD). Learn the Youth Development Common Language. Improve our competencies to work with young people.  

2. Connect (Resources)

   • Organize and convene as a Community of Practice so that we are developing and sharing resources and advancing our collective practice and voice.

3. Practice (Activism)

   • Take action. In our programs, do the work of engaging and facilitating youth along the youth development continuum from youth services to youth organizing.

With the current state of mental health crises among youth we must act now, we must act together, and we must act with youth! We still have all of the resources and tools available to meet this challenge. You are already part of the movement. It’s our work to do. Let’s connect!

Raise One Generation With Love And Change The World!