About the Toolkit

Why do we need a Youth Voice Best Practices Toolkit?

We know that centering Youth Voice fosters environments where youth are better able to learn and thrive. When adults hear young people out, we can provide more effective support, build stronger relationships, and grow together. Youth Voice benefits everyone.

Right now, adults in this region aren’t listening to what young people are telling them, which creates lopsided power dynamics and unjust and inequitable outcomes for youth. But with the right resources, examples, and guidance, we believe that this can change.

When adults and youth work together in ways that are engaging, honest, and co-governed, they are better enabled to collectively combat unjust learning environments, change dominant narratives, and lead in their learning and their lives.

Project Partners

1Hood Media
5A Elite Youth Empowerment
APOST
A+ Schools
Carlow University – Social Justice Institutes
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Carnegie Mellon University CREATE Lab
Heinz History Center
The Heinz Endowments
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Remake Learning
SLB Radio
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
YMCA Lighthouse
Youth Enrichment Services (YES)

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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