not your high school cafeteria...not your high school cafeteria 10 operating rules from a “youth...

Not Your high school cafeteria 10 operating rules from a “youth driven space”

@youthdriven

John Weiss, Director of Strategic Initiatives

Will Ross, Teen Intern

Take a Stance

An activity to reflect on youth voice

and decision making in your

organization or program

The Phat Guerilla Guidebook

to Starting a Successful Teen

Center 10 rulez of the road

Not a thing

anymore!

Not Your High School Cafeteria

Quote/Story

The Ethic

The Practice

The Challenge

The Skinny

A Subversive Guide to

Youth-Driven Programming

RULE #1

“It is easy for visitors to hear the enthusiasm springing from teens’

voices when kids talk about what programs they are involved in.

What isn’t easy to see is why the Neutral Zone truly works. In my

point of view, the Neutral Zone is so successful because it lives and

breathes its mission statement. Teens are not only integral to every

organizational level, they are supported and stretched by adults at

every step.”

– Emma Tolman, former teen participant, teen board member

& Neutral Zone staff member

Know Who You Are! The mission, the mission, the mission

Know Who You Are! The mission, the mission, the mission

RULE #2 For Teens, By Teens

Keeping it real by letting teens really lead

interest Elementary Ages

Teen Years

interest

Consider a “Hobby” you enjoy…

What is your hobby? How did you get into it? Why do

you enjoy it? In what ways is it different than your

work?

Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic

Motivation

Curiosity Enjoyment

Control Challenge

Teen Advisory:

A Model for Youth voice, decision making &

Engagement

Official Board Committee

Approves new weekly programs

Engages in grant making to other programs

Program advocacy

Co-leads organization program evaluation

For Teens by Teens

RULE #3

Teens Should be Seen AND Heard

It might get loud ... But don’t cover your ears

WHY? Teens w/educational opportunities in creative arts*

have

higher GPAs

lower dropout rates

better attitudes about community

Over 70% of employers reported that creativity &

innovation are critical skills for new employees;

however, 55% of them feel that new workforce

entrants are lacking in these areas**.

**Casner–Lotto, Jill. “Are They Really Ready To Work? Employers’ Perspectives on the Basic Knowledge and Applied Skills

of New Entrants to the 21st Century U.S. Workforce.” Work- force Readiness Project Team, 2006.

*The arts and achievement in at-risk youth: Findings from four longitudinal studies. Catterall, J. S., Dumais, S. A., &

Hampden-Thompson, G. (2012). The arts and achievement in at-risk youth: Findings from four longitudinal studies.

Washington, DC: National Endowment for the Arts.

How do we expect youth to be

prepared to serve as citizens in a

democratic society if we don’t

give them opportunities to make

real decisions in their youth?

RULE #4

Let them Run the Store

How Do They Run the Store?

The Challenge:

Failure can be a learning experience

Evaluate the stakes

We help them NOT fail by

training

scaffolding

working in partnership

Rule #5:

Let ‘em Draw on the Walls!

The Challenge

Rule #6: Make your program a safe

space for all teens. Promote

inclusion, tolerance

Developmental Needs of

Adolescents

Physical Activity

Structure & Clear Limits

Need for Creative Expression

Need for Self Definition

Competence and Achievement

Meaningful Participation

Positive Social Interactions

Scales, P.C. (1991). A Portrait of Young Adolescents in the 1990s: Implications

for promoting healthy growth and development. Minneapolis, MN: Search

Institute/Center for Early Adolescence

Schools – Safe? Less than one-third of adolescents say that

schools provide them a caring, encouraging

environment*

A national survey of high school students

reports that 20% have been bullied in the

past 12 months**

Stats are significantly higher for students

from marginalized identities

* Search Institutes Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors. Search Institute® Minneanapolis, MN; (2003).

** Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (2009). Available at: www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/ index.html

A Truly ‘NEUTRAL ZONE’

Identity-based

Programs

Bring in Some

Dope Adults

That’s not a

thing

EITHER!

How about

“awesome? Well

OK.

X

Rule 7: Bring in Some Awesome Adults

How NZ Brings in Awesome

adults

How NZ Brings in Awesome

adults

X

How NZ Brings in Awesome

adults

Rule #8 Invite Everyone to the Party

Rule 9:

No matter how

awesome your idea,

you can’t keep the

lights on without money

Who are your Best

fundraisers (ever!)?

Asking others to pick up the

check

Rule #10 The possibilities are endless

That’s Iggy Pop

The FUTURE

The FUTURE

YDS Value Proposition

Youth thrive when they have voice and

engage in genuine decision making. We

empower youth by supporting organizations

to develop new practices that lead to a

culture of youth and adult partnerships.

Youth-Adult Partnerships

multiple youth and multiple adults deliberating and

acting together

in a collective [democratic] fashion

over a sustained period of time

through shared work

intended to promote social justice, strengthen an

organization and/or affirmatively address a community

issue

Zeldin, Christen, Powers - Society for Community Research and Action -2012

Youth-Adult Partnerships

encompasses four core elements . . .

authentic decision making

natural mentors

reciprocity

community connectedness

Reflection:

With a partner, reflect on what you heard:

What affirmed your practice or knowledge?

What surprised you? What made you think?

What do you think will be some difficulties trying

to be more youth driven?

What questions do you still have?

Wrap Up: Comments/Questions

Contact:

John Weiss - weiss@neutral-zone.org @youthdriven