Adult Allies

Guidelines for Adult Allies: Let youth decide if you're an ally;  Limit how long and how often you speak in discussions;  Don't vote;  Encourage post-discussion processing time; Don't be in charge of the group's money, space, or resources; Don't get paid; Don't get in front of TV cameras; Be cautious about participating in panels on Youth Liberation; "Nothing about us without us." - Adapted from a piece by Sven Bonnichsen.  

Organizations

Youth on Board

Youth on Board helps bridge the gap between adults and youth by providing practical information, training, publications, and support -the all-important "how-to's" that can be key to the success of young people as community leaders. Youth on Board offers a wide array of trainings, support, and publications for the public.

Taking Children Seriously

TCS is an educational philosophy for parents, teachers and others. Its most distinctive feature is the idea that it is possible and desirable to bring up children entirely without doing things to them against their will, or making them do things against their will, and that they are entitled to the same rights, respect and control over their lives as adults.

The Global Program on Youth is establishing broad-based groups of scholars, policy makers, and service providers who are working together to address critical and timely issues related to children and youth. This innovative program is addressing the translation from research to practice in an effort to make research more accessible and applicable to policy makers and practitioners.

What Kids Can Do

WKCD collects stories from across the nation about young people working to make their communities better places to live, work, and play. They also publish nice books for adults that translate these works into lessons learned and activities to do. Very cool org.

Websites

Through his concise, practical, and academic methods, Males is keeping it real for the image of young people throughout the US.  His hard-hitting, fact-filled books and articles are breaking down Adultistic, anti-youth media stereotypes, and inspiring hundreds of young people everyday to fight the systematic and societal prejudice that prevents them from participating throughout society.   Check out his website, read his work, and share the knowledge that Mike puts forth- he does it so well.  Also check out his regular articles in Youth Today.

A massive compendium of websites, resources and publications for youth workers of all kinds. Very, very big, informative site.

Promoting meaningful student involvement in school change.

"Youth are the recipients of more abuse, pain, hunger and neglect than any other group of people. In addition to all this children face an extraordinary amount of scapegoating and blame for problems that simply are not their fault. Now more than ever it is important to challenge the discrimination, exploitation and abuse that young people face every day of their lives, and make Youth Empowerment and liberation a central goal of movements for change." This web site contains lots of links and articles about empowering young people.

Publications

This booklet by Barry Checkoway is a MUST-READ for adults who hope to strengthen their work WITH young people.  Adults who are, or want to become, allies of young people in their quest for prompting social change. This publication's purpose is to increase awareness, pose questions, and increase intergenerational interaction. Adults who read it should come away with the idea that youth are valuable resources who can serve as assets in the community.

This article from The Educational Forum by Ruthanne Kurth-Schai offers a definitive analysis of the current roles of children and youth, and how they can be realigned according to necessity and empowerment.

An article from Youth Today ~ Youth Tomorrow that states, "Community youth development means working with, not for, youth and adults. Youth workers must be adept at facilitation and group work. But it is the facilitation of enabling and catalyzing, not merely training or teaching. After all, CYD is community work, not clinical or classroom work."

Compiled by Mike Males, this is a MUST-READ for any adult who is serious about debunking myths about modern teenagers.  Includes startlingly reaffirming statistics about teen drinking, violence, and more.

A Crimson and Gray magazine issue that includes news articles on a wide variety of topics, including Adultism, welcoming youth, agendas for youth across society, and teen rebellion.

Youth Consultants for Change

This article details the work of Community Impact! in involving youth in changing communities. "Rather than deploying youth to fulfill internships at each organization, staff members see themselves and the youth as consultants to organizations, expanding educational and economic opportunities for other youth... imagine the impact [12] young people could have as part of a youth/adult firm that is committed to helping 12 organizations create a network of opportunities - opportunities to help youth and families throughout the community improve their odds [for success]."

An excerpt from Younger Voices, Stronger Choices: Promise Projects Guide to Forming Youth/Adult Partnerships. "Involving young people in decisions is a way of showing respect, of saying their opinions and ideas count. To accomplish this, both youths and adults will need adequate preparation and training." The article lists what both youth and older adults must do to make a partnership work. There is also a link to more information about the book, which we strongly recommend.
 

An article from Youth Today ~ Youth Tomorrow that states, "Community youth development means working with, not for, youth and adults. Youth workers must be adept at facilitation and group work. But it is the facilitation of enabling and catalyzing, not merely training or teaching. After all, CYD is community work, not clinical or classroom work."

Publications by Mike Males

Kids And Guns - Free Download!

Mike Males, Common Courage Press, 2001, E-Book.

The Scapegoat Generation: America's War On Adolescents

Mike A. Males, 1996

Framing Youth: 10 Myths About The Next Generation

Mike A. Males, 1999.

Publications by Youth on Board

This booklet from Youth on Board is designed to help adults think about relationships with young people. It includes a collection from more than 500 interviews with young people worldwide. Hear from young people about what they want adults to know about being their allies.
 

A youth worker resource group is a structured meeting of people who work with youth and who listen and talk about things that matter to young people. Through the process of listening and sharing ideas, people can appreciate each other's work, learn from each other's struggles, and receive encouragement and reliable information about their work, their lives, and accomplishing their goals. Created by Youth on Board.

Listening to Young People
Listening can be used quite effectively in our work with young people. If adults can learn to listen to young people with the understanding that, given enough attention and encouragement, they truly have the best answers, we can help them make permanent changes in their lives. Created by Youth on Board.

Special Time
This booklet outlines a simple but very effective way to strengthen your child's understanding that you care. Parents tell us that doing "Special Time" helps their children to be more hopeful, more in tune with others in the family, and better able to say what they really need. Created by Youth on Board.

Understanding and Supporting Young People
To be effective, adults need to analyze their own youthful experiences. This booklet is a hands-on policy statement for adults to work against young people's oppression and its effects, and can be used as an outline for how adults can better work with young people. Created by Youth on Board.

14 Points: Successfully Involving Youth in Decision Making

Young people should be involved in the decisions that affect their lives. They benefit. Organizations benefits. And so does the community. If you are under 21 and want to learn how to become involved in positions of power, or you are already working with young people and want to do so more effectively, 14 Points: Successfully Involving Youth in Decision Making is for you. This comprehensive guide includes guidelines, worksheets, tips, a resource directory, and stories from the street--all designed to help young people and adults build effective relationships in order to work together in improve their communities. Created by Youth on Board.

Get the Word Out!
As adults, how do you help young people find their power? As young people, how do you get stronger and feel like you can speak up? This booklet deals with the importance of young people taking on powerful positions in our organizations, with training exercises that will help groups think about the issues. Created by Youth on Board.

Video - At the Table: Youth Voices in Decision Making
Young people share their reasons why they decided to serve their organizations and communities by serving on boards and councils. Young people and adults share ideas on how to create an environment where everyone can participate. Includes a Discussion Guide with "food for thought" for each question in the video. Created by Youth on Board.

Youth on Board: How and Why to Involve Young People in Organizational
Decision-Making
Produced in collaboration with the National Center for Nonprofit Boards, this booklet is perfect for the busy staff person or Board chair who wants to find out about involving young people in decision-making but does not have time to read 14 Points with hand-outs and worksheets. The booklet is great for providing introductory information to boards and committees to decide if this is the right route for them. Created by Youth on Board.

Publications by What Kids Can Do

Fires in the Bathroom: Advice for Teachers from High School Students

By Kathleen Cushman and 40 students from across the United States. This valuable book provides relevant, specific, and detailed recommendations to teachers. 

Small Towns, Big Dreams: In Dying Rural Economies, Youth Efforts Infuse New Hope and Money
This story is from What Kids Can Do. It details how young people in rural areas across the country are central to the revitalization of their communities. "Young people can change the way a whole town operates. Let me tell you, it's a breath of fresh air."

Publications by SoundOut

Meaningful Student Involvement Guide to Inclusive School Change

By Adam Fletcher for The Freechild Project and HumanLinks Foundation.  This 24-page booklet is designed to acquaint the reader with the strategies and characteristics of Meaningful Student Involvement by examining school activities, organizational structures and participant roles from across the nation today. Examples of best practices and a variety of assessment tools illustrate the actual application of the strategy in diverse settings, and a comprehensive resource listing provides ample footing for educators and students to advocate for and implement Meaningful Student Involvement in their schools.

By Adam Fletcher for New Horizons for Learning. This article explores the roles of students in schools, and offers suggestions for ways that adults can empower young people.

From www.SoundOut.org - Promoting meaningful student involvement in school change.