Acting On Behalf Of Youth Can Take Many Forms
By I. Shelby Andress and Eugene C. Roehlkepartain
(From March 1993, Source Newsletter)
One of the most common questions we hear at Search Institute is, "Now what? We see the issues and
the needs uncovered by the research. We're concerned about today's young people. So now what do we do? "
The issue is an important one: How can-and do-people respond to research in ways that make a positive
impact for children and youth? For 15 years, Search Institute has assisted a wide range of organizations
in translating research into appropriate action. This work suggests that there are many ways individuals
and groups can take action for youth. Understanding the variety of approaches and recognizing the value
of each opens up a range of possibilities for concerned citizens.
Too often, when we think about community change, we jump immediately to the most complex and
difficult approach: collaboration. As valuable as this method is in many communities for fostering
significant change, it also can become frustrating and self-defeating if the partners are not ready
for it. A better approach is for each person and organization to discover the most appropriate level
of involvement. This article presents a framework for thinking about these possibilities.*
(*Based on Working Together for Youth: A Practical Guide for Individuals and Groups, prepared by
Search Institute for the RespecTeen Program of Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal benefit society
based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.)
Before Action Is Vision
Several years ago, a team of researchers headed by Dr. Ronald Lippitt examined dynamics of two
different types of planning groups. The first type focused on solving problems. The conversations
in these planning groups quickly deteriorated into blaming others, frustration, and, in the end,
"Band-Aid" solutions that didn't really deal with the issues. The other type focused their planning
on creating a vision of the kind of future they desired rather than the problems that needed to be
solved. These groups found themselves energized, and their efforts were creative and innovative.
This same tension is evident in youth work. Most of the energy for the past two decades has focused
on solving "youth problems"-sexual activity, drug abuse, dropouts, gangs . . . and on and on. While
numerous innovative programs address these issues, the nation as a whole is frustrated and disheartened.
And the problems are still there, despite the efforts.
Thus many youthworkers are beginning to think in more visionary terms. They speak about "youth as resources"
who can become part of the solutions. They talk about the kind of world young people need to grow up healthy.
Before taking action, it's important to think in these visionary terms. What kind of future would we prefer
for our young? What kind of world do they need? Once we begin answering these questions, we can focus our
energy on ways of making those visions become realities.
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Individual Action
In a time of daunting social issues, we sometimes forget the value of one person taking action on behalf of
youth. Our inclination is to rely on groups, institutions, and government to "take care" of young people.
Yet individual action is vital. It's often the missing link for young people in a fragmented society. Young
people need parents and neighbors who look out for them and place limits and expectations upon them. They
need adults who care about them individually through some sort of mentoring relationship (see the November
1992 Source). They need teachers who take the extra step to support and encourage them.
Young people also need adults who will give their individual time and energy to organizations that
support youth. This could mean coaching a soccer team, teaching a class in a religious congregation,
or volunteering time to help in the office of an understaffed community organization. The point is that
there are many things individuals can do that can make a significant contribution. Many people are already
doing these individual, unsung actions. Others who are concerned need to hear about the opportunities that
utilize different skills and commitments.
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Supportive Groups
As you become involved in youth issues in your community, you'll likely discover others who share your values
and concerns. Some of them are people you especially trust with your concerns and questions. These
like-minded people can get together to share information and to learn from one another. The result can
be that you clarify issues, identify strengths, and set initial priorities for your community in a supportive
climate.
Supportive groups are typically made up of very busy people. A few guidelines used by many of these types of
groups can help to make these meetings more energizing than draining.
- Be clear about your purpose. The group's purpose is to support one another as you explore your concern.
You are seeking to understand a complex situation more fully than one person can understand it alone.
- Carefully choose the group. Select people with whom you feel free to share openly, rather than people
for an action group.
- Hold regular, limited meetings. Start by scheduling no more than three meetings. At the end of the
third meeting, decide what to do next.
- Have informal and candid dialogue. You need a place where you can freely express doubts, concerns,
and incomplete information.
- Practice dialogue. Your discussions should aim to help individuals gain insights that simply could
not be achieved alone.
- Take time. Take time to gather information. Discipline yourselves not to jump into action before you
understand the issues.
Each individual in your group must decide about how to address the issues you discuss. You may decide as
a group to initiate some public action. However, not all of you may wish to be a part of the public action.
Some of you may wish to stop your involvement with the group at this point and use your insights to help
you carry out your present work more effectively. Help each other make those decisions.
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Public Conversations
As supportive groups develop, they learn to translate their private concerns into public issues, and they
grow in their ability to give voice to their concerns. Your supportive group can become a catalyst
for a new vision by creating opportunities for people to talk to each other.
Some observers of our democratic system point out that in recent times we have spent too little time
in public discourse. We rush toward solutions (too frequently legislation) without clearly defining
the issues. Then, when the laws and rules create more problems than they solve, we get caught in
grievances and court-like proceedings. In a democracy, we have the privilege of open conversation
among people with different points of view. Thus, it's prudent to hold public conversations before
moving into action.
Public conversations generally take one of three different forms:
- A presenter or presenters provides baseline information to get people thinking about issues.
- An open forum allows individuals to come to the front of the room and give their individual points of view.
- Small work groups generally seek to develop a final "product, " such as proposed priorities
for the community or guidelines for effective initiatives.
What can be gained by public conversations? Mostly, you begin to create a language of change, a
language of concern and hope and vision. You give people an opportunity to name their worries and
their yearnings for change. And you begin to tap the leadership potential of many people who want
to make a difference. These people can become the core of your network.
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Influential Network
Through your research, personal conversations, group meetings, and/or public forums, you now
may be convinced that your efforts should become more formal and that you need people to work
together for action for youth. A core network of like-minded people may be your next step.
Your core network is a group of six to 12 people you consider effective and influential leaders.
This core network is different from earlier steps in that you intentionally gather people with
different expertise and influence in order to have a broad, positive impact in the community.
These are people who share concerns, want to make a difference, and are in positions to influence
others to action.
What does this core network do? We suggest you organize your work around similar tasks as the
earlier stages: gather accurate information, work together on a vision for youth, and agree to
specific actions. Once your network has been through this sort of process, you have two basic
options. People can decide to make a difference where they are, committing to change the way
they work. Or your network may choose to involve more people in cooperation among various entities
in the community. That decision brings us to the final step in community action.
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Collaboration
Collaboration is happening across the country, and there's evidence that collaboration can result
in healthier communities and healthier youth.
Starting and maintaining a collaborative is no easy or short-term task. Nevertheless, studies of
hundreds of collaboratives give us clues about how to succeed rather than fail in collaborations.
In Collaboration: What Makes It Work, researchers at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation outline six
factors that influence collaboratives' success:
- Members share mutual respect, understanding and trust. An appropriate cross-section of
members is active. Members see the collaboration as in their self-interest, and they are willing to compromise.
- Collaborating partners share the same vision with a clearly agreed-on mission. The mission
is different from that of any single organization involved. Goals and objectives are clear and realistic.
- Some history of cooperation or collaboration in the community gives people greater trust
that something can happen through collaboration.
- Members feel ownership of both the way the group works and the results.
- Open and frequent communication flows among members.
- Collaboratives have sufficient funds to support their operations.
Forming true collaborations is a difficult and time-consuming task. But it can also be extremely
rewarding. If you move toward the collaboration model of making a difference for youth, over time
your efforts-along with those of the others involved-will work together in powerful ways to benefit
youth in your community and to address your major concerns.
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It Adds Up
Sometimes it's easy to be overwhelmed, feeling as if there's nothing you can do to address concerns
or make a difference for today's young people. Problems can seem too daunting and complex to understand
fully. Needs can seem too great to be met with the resources at hand. Your energy may not always seem
adequate to sustain you when you feel like you're working all alone.
An ancient proverb says, "Drops that gather one by one finally become a sea. " By finding a comfortable
fit in one of these types of involvement, concerned individuals and groups can help to create a wave of
concern that makes our world a better place for youth.
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