Youth Driven Spaces (YDS)Where Young People's Ideas and Voice are Central

A presentation to Strong Partners for a Strong Michigan Conference

October 9, 2012

Presenters: John Weiss, Executive Director – Neutral Zone

Lori Roddy, Associate Executive DirectorAnna Rosenfeld, Neutral Zone teen Board Member

2

The Neutral Zone – Ann Arbor, MI The Neutral Zone is a diverse, youth-driven teen center

dedicated to promoting personal growth through artistic expression, community leadership and the exchange of ideas.

Neutral Zone is committed to : Providing high-quality youth-driven activities and programs rooted

in a positive youth development approach. To target a diverse teenage audience. To provide teens with 21st century skills. To support authentic adult-youth partnerships, so that teens can

engage in social change, creative expression, community leadership and cultural and educational enrichment.

3

YOUTH-DRIVEN PRACTICES: @ THE PROGRAM LEVELYOUTH DO THE FOLLOWING … Set Goals and Develop Strategic Plans Facilitate Meetings Run Dialogues Curate Shows and Performances Promote Events/Projects Recruit and Train other Participants

4

YOUTH-DRIVEN PRACTICES: @ THE ORGANIZATION LEVELYOUTH DO THE FOLLOWING … Establish Norms and Expectations Own the Physical Space Participate in Staff Hiring Approve New Program Initiatives Grant Making

5

YOUTH-DRIVEN PRACTICES: @ THE GOVERNANCE LEVELYOUTH DO THE FOLLOWING … Serve on the Board and Board Committees Partake in Organizational Strategic Planning Support Community Outreach Fundraise Evaluate Programs

6

Partners on the Development of the Youth Driven Space Project Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor’s Teen Center

The Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality

MSU’s Community Education & Research Collaborative

S|Y|N Associates LLC

7

Partner Pilot Agencies 8 youth-serving organizations/programs from around

Michigan served as Pilot Sites ASK – Kalamazoo The Aud – Richmond The Block – Canton Bright Futures 21st Century Program – Ypsilanti, Willow Run &

Wayne Westland Harriet Tubman Center – Detroit Port Huron 21st Century Program – Port Huron Ruth Ellis Center – Detroit West Midland Family Ctr.

8

What is the Youth Driven Spaces project?

Adults and youth learn YDS concepts and strategies for sharing power

Organizations build youth voice into all levels of structure, deliver youth-driven programming

Youth interest, participation, & engagement increase

Youth develop 21st Century skills that help prepare them for college, work and life

The Youth Driven Spaces project considers youth programs to be laboratories for critical skill development. By changing the way programs do business, we can change outcomes for youth.

9

Logic model for YDS intervention

Inputs Short-term impact Long-Term Impact Ultimate ImpactIncreased Youth 21st Century Skills• Leadership• Assertiveness•

Communication

• Critical thinking and problem solving

• Teamwork and collaboration

• Responsibility

• Innovation

Increased youth -adult partnerships• More youth take on

leadership roles• Authentic youth

decision-making related to activities

• Youth have authentic roles on decision-making bodies and in organizational procedures /policies

• Organization and space demonstrate YDS-related structural changes

Improved youth perceptions of how youth are valued

Staff /administrator attitudes and interactions support YDS• Knowledge of

YDS • Attitudes about

YDS-related principles

• YDS-related interactions

Organizational structure supports YDS• Mission/philosophy• Policies and

procedures support YDS

• Staff hiring/training

3-day Institute & Reflection day

Coaching (facilitation and feedback)

Modeling/ demonstration

Increased team knowledge of YDS

Increased team youth-adult partnership

Increased team valuing of YDS

Intermediate impact

10

Qualitative Impact - Youth Driven Space Initiative

All sites instituted Youth Advisory groups Across all eight sites, youth roles have significantly

increased in program operation through youth involvement in creating program agendas, planning program offerings and co-facilitating program sessions

Adult-youth partnerships have significantly strengthened at all eight pilot sites.

Six out of eight sites significantly increased roles and responsibilities for youth in organizational external civic affairs.

11

Summary Quantitative YDS Impacts

Statistically significant gains for youth in: Program engagement Goal setting Problem solving Teamwork and social skills Organization skills Leadership and responsibility

12

Advocacy Services for Kids - KalamazooOur Story with Youth Driven Space

Program Development Organizational Changes What YDS has meant to Calling All Youth members

13

Application Activity:

Reflect on the principles of “youth driven space” through the items outlined in the Youth-Driven Formative Index

In Small Groups, by organization type, consider …. How could you use the items in the YDS Formative Index to

drive increased youth voice across your grantees, organizations your serve or your own agency?

14

Wrap-Up & Q/A

Neutral Zone310 E. Washington StreetAnn Arbor, MI 48104734.214.9995www.neutral-zone.org

John Weiss weiss@neutral-zone.orgLori Roddy: lori@neutral-zone.orgAnna Rosenfeld

Where teens lead, create & innovate