Abstract
Civic engagement, experiential education, positive youth development, youth leadership, service-learning: what is it about these programmatic models that account for their popularity and impact over decades? What’s at the core, how are they similar and different, and what differential impacts and benefits might various types or forms of youth engagement affect? The lack of consensus on conceptual frameworks and definitions of youth participation and engagement has been identified as one of the issues plaguing the field and restricting progress of youth engagement research and practice (O’Donoghue, Kirshner & McLaughlin, 2002). The authors present a conceptual framework called the Rings of Engagement that captures the myriad ways in which people think about youth engagement. The literature on the benefits and outcomes of each ring or type of youth engagement is highlighted. The authors conclude with recommendations for further research which will guide training, stakeholder-driven communication tools created to garner support, ways to act locally while working at the intermediary level to provide the supports necessary to promote and support youth engagement.
Highlights
The concept of youth engagement has been an enduring, yet evolving feature in the landscape of community-based youth development work
The focus of youth engagement is on ensuring that young people participate in high quality programs
Youth engagement is about helping young people find activities they are passionate about
Summary
The concept of youth engagement has been an enduring, yet evolving feature in the landscape of community-based youth development work. Researchers and practitioners largely agree that all these forms of youth engagement, done well, are good for young people, programs and communities (Sullivan, 2011) What do these different types of youth engagement have in common? Our effort to unravel and identify the many threads and forms of youth engagement is motivated by the need to move forward a comprehensive agenda that advances understanding, support and promotion of quality youth engagement opportunities. Such an agenda could create communities in which young people’s strengths and assets are recognized, utilized and built upon through multiple developmentally-linked opportunities to connect and contribute. We conclude with a discussion of enduring challenges and possible steps to ensure that all youth have the opportunities to engage in the programs and activities that they want and need
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