Simple strategies to empower youth

As positive youth development professionals, we know the importance of creating space for youth to make decisions. Providing a place for youth to identify issues, discuss important community priorities and create action helps them build a stronger connection to their community.

As adults, our role is to co-create the environment that allows this movement to happen. When we ask young people, “Well, what do you want to do?” and receive silence and unsure sideways glances, it isn’t because the young people don’t have ideas. More likely, they aren’t sure how to express their thoughts or feel like their ideas aren't good enough to share with the whole group. 

Here are some ideas to facilitate youth leadership.

Brainstorming

Idea generation

As youth arrive, have large pieces of paper on the wall with different headings for things the group might want to do. 

Potential headings could include: 

• Things I want to learn
• Service learning ideas
• Places to explore
• Just for fun, can we? 

You'll also want to have a variety of markers and Post-It Notes to encourage youth members to share any and all ideas. Then, have them read others' ideas and add to them, while also capturing any new thoughts that come up.

Small group think

In groups of two to four, have youth brainstorm three things they want the full team to accomplish. Then, form new groups that include members of the first round in each of the new groups. In these new groups, youth should share their ideas and choose the top two to present to the larger group.

Green light, red light, yellow light 

This activity works for youth of all ages to think about what to keep, change or stop doing. 

Rotational brainstorming

It is a variant of the idea generation activity, described above, and moves into a bit of the planning process.

Planning

Once an idea or priority is selected, try out one of these methods to move the idea to a plan. 

Pair-Share

Pair up youth to identify two to three steps that could happen to accomplish their large group goal. 

Backwards planning 

This method guides youth in a backward direction, starting with the end goal. 

Check out the Goal-Setting Activities from the University of Minnesota Extension Department of Youth Development for more ideas. 

It is important to ensure that youth leadership is connected to each of the steps in the planning process. Together, decide on a check-in process and encourage youth to reach out to their team members when needed.

Reflecting

Along the way, allow for opportunities to pause and reflect as a group. Here are a few quick reflection activities.

Thumbs up, down or sideways

Youth show the group how they are feeling in the moment with a show of their thumbs. Thumbs up means feeling right on track; thumbs down signals a lot of uncertainty or questions; and thumbs sideways indicates some confusion, but also excitement about the project. 

One word

Youth use one word to describe how they are feeling at the moment. Their word is shared popcorn style with the large group.

Yarn web 

This activity helps recognize everyone’s efforts in the group by passing a ball of yarn to create a web, while sharing reflections with one another.

You can find more ideas and strategies from Building Your Program Quality 20 Minutes at a Time. 

Empower, encourage and walk alongside

For any of these methods, adults can take note and follow up with any individual youth. Having the privilege of facilitating youth from “what do you want to do” to implementing the full planning cycle is impactful for everyone involved. 

Youth want to be involved. Our role as adults is to empower them, encourage them and walk alongside them.