Listen

As an adult, don’t assume your knowledge or opinions should be prioritized in youth spaces. Rather than dictating or offering suggestions, listen thoughtfully and compassionately. Validate and act on feedback when appropriate.

Background and Strategies

Listening is central to effective communication, which is necessary for trusting relationships. One must first listen before they can offer proper support of any kind. Listening with respect, without the need to respond or defend, and without expectation are key features of effective listening.

“An adult can begin to break down barriers by listening well to young people, and listening can be used to help young people build relationships with each other. If we can learn to listen to young people with the understanding that, given enough attention and encouragement, they truly have the best answers, we can help them make permanent changes in their lives” (Youth On Board, 2001).

Modeling active listening and similar behaviors can also help youth better interact in their own relationships.

Relevant Resources

Youth on Board: ListeningWorks Ideas and Strategies

StoryCorps Active Listening Lesson Plan

Active Listening: Katie Owens at TEDxYouth@Conejo

Unicef Voices of Youth

Listen

Validate and act on feedback when appropriate.

As an adult, don’t assume your knowledge or opinions should be prioritized in youth spaces.

Self Educate

Be willing both to do internal work and take meaningful action.

Supporting youth voice as an adult requires deep, long-term learning about adultism and other forms of systemic oppression that youth experience.

Advocate

Use your power to lift up youths' perspectives and needs.

In spaces that are currently less accessible to youth, use your power to lift up their perspectives and needs.

Youth Organizing

Youth organizing involves youth-led action for social change.

Youth organizing involves youth-led action for social change built on a strong foundation of power analysis and support.

Connectedness

Foster sense of self, identity, and community.

Create an environment that nurtures self-exploration in conjunction with community-building.

Purposeful Leadership

Create meaningful youth leadership opportunities.

Fostering youth leadership requires building capacity, skills, and confidence by supporting young people as decision-makers and problem solvers.

Let Go

Let go and trust youth.

Demonstrate trust in youth by letting go of your own assumptions, expectations, and power.

Partnership

Work with youth as partners.

Work in partnership with youth to create a shared plan.

Tailored Support

Support youth in ways you’re asked to.

Take tangible steps to support youths’ interests, goals, and needs.

Trusting Relationships

Build trusting relationships with youth.

Foster mutual respect, direct communication, learning, and cultural awareness in your relationships with youth.

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