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Building an Effective Citizenry: Lessons Learned from Initiatives in Youth Engagement

NCJ Number
211469
Author(s)
Sarah S. Pearson; Healther M. Voke
Date Published
2003
Length
40 pages
Annotation
This report presents ideas proposed at American Youth Policy Forums held between 2002 and 2003 and current initiatives in the development of effective citizenry and youth engagement.
Abstract
In 2002-2003, American Youth Policy Forum conducted a series of forums focusing on issues related to the development of effective citizenry and youth engagement. Participants had the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of work currently taking place to help young people take action in their schools and communities and to become engaged and effective citizens. This report presents some of the ideas presented and discussed during the course of these activities/forums and describes some of the work that individuals and groups are currently engaged in to promote the development of effective and engaged citizens. Some of the forums discussed include: (1) obstacles faced by youth with disabilities inhibiting full participation in society; (2) efforts to take a highly successful youth civic engagement project to a national level; (3) a description of a project that disseminates grants to schools committed to teaching the meaning of the first amendment; (4) a description of efforts in Missouri and California to engage youth and solicit their perspectives in the formation of public policies; (5) the learning about youth court (or teen court); and (6) a trip to a charter school in Washington, DC, that focused on public policy. The report concludes with recommendations on how to build an effective youth citizenry. Resource and publication lists