Our Children This Month, September 2023

Youth Development: Calling Forth Fresno's New Leaders

In recent years there has been growing attention to the importance of developing and supporting youth involvement in community decision-making and participation. An emerging body of research is demonstrating that youth who become involved in their communities develop leadership skills, social skills, and life skills while, at the same time, the community benefits enormously from their contribution. Research also shows that in order to maximize their potential, young people need access to resources and proactive efforts to enforce positive youth development principles to build skills. They also need opportunities to learn from experience by serving as active contributors through community-based initiatives where they can see that their efforts have made a difference. This topic of meaningful youth engagement has gained a new urgency in the wake of the pandemic.