LEADING WITH

In Profiles, Key Moments, and a Continuum of Youth-Led Participation, Pegah Rahmanian discusses Youth In Action’s (YIA) approach to youth development as a refreshing, collaborative method that emphasizes partnership rather than adult silence. While many youth-led models often quiet adult voices to let youth lead independently, YIA takes a different stance. It encourages building open, supportive relationships between youth and adults. This approach recognizes that balanced adult involvement can be invaluable for nurturing young people’s growth, confidence, and self-awareness.

What really resonated with me is how YIA prioritizes the adult role as one of guidance and awareness, staying attuned to each youth’s unique strengths and readiness for leadership. Rather than remaining passive, adults in YIA actively connect with youth, learning about their talents and goals to recognize key moments when they can gently push them or help them step out of their comfort zones. This level of engagement builds trust and enables adults to empower young people more effectively, especially when they begin to doubt themselves or feel uncertain about their potential. by starting with adult-led work and leading to youth-led work we are able to see foundation being built and use key moments as learning opportunities. 

In reading the introduction of At Our Best one of the first things that stood out to me was its discussion on the history of youth standing up and taking action. As someone who has always been interested in history, hearing about the numerous times that youth have played pivotal roles in social justice movements was heartwarming and inspiring. This historical context highlights the impact that young people have had in shaping societies and pushing for justice. Empowering youth to speak up and lead change is so important, and reminding them that their voices have historically driven significant social shifts can be a powerful motivator. It shows that youth voices can create change and have always been instrumental in challenging injustices and advocating for a better world.