Asset #7, Community Values Youth

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Asset Story Archive
11/02 Asset # 37, Personal Power

10/02 Asset #36, Peaceful Conflict Resolution

09/02 Asset #24, Bonding to School

08/02 Asset #7, Community Values Youth

07/02 Asset #38, Self-esteem

05/02 Asset #40, Positive View of Personal Future

04/02 Asset #31, Restraint

03/02 Asset #32, Planning and Decision Making

02/02 Asset #29, Honesty

Youth Need to Feel Valued

Cultural stereotypes negatively affect adolescents on a daily basis. As our society becomes more and more age segregated, young people are becoming progressively isolated from their communities and adults have grown to mistrust--and even fear--the younger generation.

By placing young people on the fringes of our society, youth are not exposed to important lessons about morals, leadership and civic responsibility. But youth are not the only ones who lose opportunities because of the segregation taking place in our communities. Adults who separate themselves from young people miss out on the chance to tap into young people's vitality, creativity and fresh perspectives. Additionally, adults limit their ability to act as a mentor or an elder to the younger generation.
Despite the direction society has taken, young people need caring adults and positive role models in their lives more than ever. Research by Search Institute shows that feeling valued in one's community is among the 40 essential building blocks--or assets-of healthy youth development. But in surveys with more than 100,000 6th-12th graders across the country, only 1 in 5 students reported that they felt valued in their community.

"Clearly we need to do a better job at involving our young people and showing them they are valued and respected," said María Guajardo Lucero, Ph.D., executive director of Assets for Colorado Youth. "We need to spend time with them, ask their opinions, listen to their ideas and help them act on their convictions."

Assets for Colorado Youth (ACY), a nonprofit organization working to strengthen the lives of young people, partners with educators, community organizations and government agencies to promote positive youth development and help adults better connect with young people.

The following tips from ACY are ways that adults can help young people feel valued in their communities:

• Get to know the names of the young people in your neighborhood and greet them when you see them. Find out their interests and ask about their activities.
  
• Invite young people to help with community service projects and give them a voice in how the project should be performed.
  
• If you sit on a board or a committee, consider adding youth members or creating a youth advisory committee.
  
• View young people as resources to be tapped--not problems to be solved.
  When adults involve young people in responsible activities and give them opportunities to plan and make decisions, youth and adults mutually learn from each other and become an important resource to one another.

Get monthly news on asset-building, tips, upcoming events and asset stories delivered right to your desktop by subscribing to the ACY Breaking News e-mail. Send your subscription request to kirsten@assetsforcoyouth.org.