“If you had a problem in the Black community, and you brought in a group of White people to discuss how to solve it, almost nobody would take that panel seriously. In fact, there’d probably be a public outcry. It would be the same the for women’s issues or gay issues. But every day, in local arenas all the way to the White House, adults sit around and decide what problems youth have and what youth need, without ever consulting us.”

--Jason, 17 years old,
Youth Force Member

Youth Engagement and Voice: a Definition

In the minds of many professionals and youth advocates, Youth Voice is a key underpinning to positive youth development. When young people participate in decision-making (as equals) with adults, mobilize and create or change public policy, and take influential leadership roles in organizations and institutions, the benefits accrue to adults, organizations and communities as well as contributing to the positive development of young people themselves. Yet organizations often find it difficult to involve youth in truly meaningful ways beyond mere token youth representation.

Many strong supporters of youth voice believe it is critical to involve youth immediately and throughout the entire program development process. Certainly some agencies support this approach. There is however, the reality that many agencies and organizations have been in operation for years or decades and are just now considering creating a youth voice emphasis.

Youth voice is typically not something you either have or don't have in your agency, organization or community. It can be viewed on a continuum ranging from zero voice to 100% self-management. It can take many forms – beyond the sharing of power, including finding one’s voice, and using one’s voice. The goal for establishing meaningful roles for youth and insuring that they have an important voice in decision-making is not to get to a state of 100% self-management, that is simply a logical extreme and one option within many different levels of involvement and effective use of youth engagement and voice.