Looking at youth as a resource

    If you look up the word “resource” in the dictionary it is defined as something that can be turned to for support. What would our community structure look like if we were to define youth as a resource from which we could gain useful skills and knowledge? Perhaps we would see youth present at city council or school board meetings, planning and leading community programs and/or having active roles in civic groups.     What would it take for adults to step aside so youth can take the directors chair?
    First we must understand why giving youth a voice to express ideas, and insights benefits communities, organizations, adults and youth. A community that has developed a generation of future leaders who are skilled, experienced and passionate will gain motivation and a new energy that will help build community spirit. Organizations with youth participating are often able to create a new vision and fresh ideas. What a gift it would be if youth could lessen the burden adults’ face in a fast paced and demanding world by working side by side with them at home, at school, or in the community. Intergenerational relationships of this kind are connections youth and adults so desperately need in their lives and create opportunities far beyond the activity in which they are participating. Youth develop new skills and gain leadership experience but even more importantly their involvement boosts their self-esteem and broadens their future career choices.
    Giving youth meaningful roles means more than allowing them to serve on a community committee. It entails valuing young people’s unique ideas, interests, skills, talents, and opinions. It involves tearing down the walls of hierarchy that currently exits in which adults know best, youth know some, and children are too young to contribute. Through our new lens youth are the coaches, not just the athlete. Unfortunately, according to Search Institute surveys, only about one in four youth said their community uses Youth as Resources, asset no. 8 of the 40 Developmental Assets. The great news is that by investing in the commitment to involve youth, youth in turn will begin to contribute to our communities, schools, and families in meaningful and thoughtful ways.
    Empowering youth begins at home by allowing your child to plan a family meal from choosing the recipe, shopping for the ingredients to making the meal. Give your child a voice and vote in family decisions. In school youth become empowered by adults who challenge them to set high goals, who put youth in charge of planning school events, and who train them to be peer mediators. Community organizations can simply add a youth presence and voice to current programs or committees.
As the idea of allowing youth to have an active voice in their communities is considered I ask that you think back to a time when you were involved in a project that tapped into your talents and allowed you to have a valued input in the decisions that were made? How did that make you feel? Were you energized, optimistic, empowered? Did you feel passion for the project because of the meaningful role you played? If the answer is yes (which I suspect it will be) then it is our responsibility as adults to pass this feeling of empowerment onto the young people in our lives for the feeling of making a difference makes all the difference for us all.
    Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets.
    This article was brought to you by Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention. For more information about ASAP and 40 Developmental Assets contact Allison Heidorn, project assistant at 540-6772 or visit www.asapcoalition.com.