Date of Award

6-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Alexa Dare

Second Advisor

Dr. John Caputo

Third Advisor

Dr. Michael Hazel

Abstract

Engaging youth in decision-making processes with adults is of growing interest in communities across the country. Reasons generally cited are that youth benefit from interactions with caring adults who help them build skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging. These experiences are essential for a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. (Benson, Scales, Hamilton, & Sesma; Hong & Roehlkepartain, 2006). However, researchers Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes, and Calvert (2000) hypothesized that these youth/adult decision-making ventures create equally important benefits for adults. In a study of select organizations across the country where youth were members of organizational boards, these researchers found youth had four key impacts on adult members. Impacts included a new perception regarding youth competence, increased adult energy and commitment to the organization, improved confidence of adults in their abilities to work with youth, and increased sense of community and connectedness. This thesis explores the relevance of dialogue, CMM, and community action theories to youth/adult partnerships and whether the four impacts on adults can occur in a multi-organizational, neighborhood-based setting. Through surveys, interviews, and researcher observation, data collection and analysis confirmed that the same impacts on adults found by Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes, and Calvert (2000) occur in a more complex, multi-organizational setting. The subject of the study is a neighborhood-based initiative to improve conditions for youth and families, where local teens are planners with adults. The study results give further reliability to the original study and legitimacy to the importance of youth/adult work.

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