Tagging Walls and Planting Seeds: Creating Spaces for Youth Civic Action

Abstract

Youth civic spaces are environments in which youth participation in civic action is fostered—the pathways, structures, and vehicles that provide opportunities for young people to engage in critical discussion, dialogue, and action. The concept of youth civic space includes the formal and informal places in which youth civic engagement can occur and how the lived experience of those places contributes to young people's development as civic actors. It extends discussions regarding the physical locations of youth civic engagement to include the activities, perceptions, and interactions within them. Drawing on archival materials from 2 multiyear projects, this article explores the role of community-based organizations in mediating youth civic action and understanding the characteristics and qualities of the organizations that facilitate youth engagement in community action and social change. We use this analysis of empirical examples to develop a conceptual framework for strengthening practice.

Keywords:

• youth civic engagement
• youth organizing
• youth participation
• civic space
• democratic practice

Acknowledgments

Some of the information for this article draws from the participatory evaluation of Lifting New Voices, a 5-year pilot project of the Center for Community Change, funded by the W. K. Kellogg and Ford Foundations. This article also draws from the co-author's dissertation work. We are particularly thankful to Barry Checkoway for his guidance and support. We are also thankful to the community organizations referenced in the article. Much of the case study information draws from evaluation materials and case examples provided directly by the community organizations. Among the many who have helped develop the ideas in this article, we also thank Shayla Griffin, Amy Hammock, Rebecca O'Doherty, Libby Richards, and the JCP editors and early reviewers of this article.