NCJ Number
93252
Date Published
1983
Length
37 pages
Annotation
The YES Change Youth Leadership Program grew out of the work of Advocates for Children of New York, an organization dedicated to ensuring the education rights of all children.
Abstract
The purpose of YES Change was to establish a training program in which young people could learn about the institutions that affect their lives and to create a core of young people who could articulate the concerns of youngsters. The experience of implementing the program showed that careful selection of young people able to relate to their peers is an important elements for the success of such a program. Six basic elements were emphasized in developing expertise in the area of concern, oral and written communications skills building, research skills, analytic and strategy skills, organizing skills, and work skills. Methods used for developing these skills are described. The program has been successful in involving young participants in such areas as voter registration, meaningful student government, and students rights initiatives. YES Change measures effectiveness by the response of the young people attending their workshops and improvement in communications skills. Although several young people in the program were on the verge of dropping out of high school, all have gone on to college. Participants in the program are involved in extracurricular activities. The report contains many samples of projects that the group has undertaken and the attendant literature.