The dawn of the 21st century has sparked great changes to our society and youth culture. On a global scale, we are more interconnected via technology and there has been an increase in the overall pace of life, resulting in a shift in how we communicate and interact. With this shift comes an increased challenge to ensure that all youth have what they need to successfully meet the complex challenges of young adulthood.
To develop future leaders with strong character, educators and policy makers have increasingly turned to civic engagement as a key indicator in the measurement of a child’s character. It is believed that service-learning – or working to make a difference in our communities and developing the skills, knowledge, values and motivation to make that difference – is a key strategy for ensuring that children are equipped to become the future leaders who will help to break the cycle of poverty for their communities.
Encouraging civic engagement is particularly vital amongst youth growing up in low-income households as they often lack access to outlets that encourage positive developmental experiences. Poverty-stricken neighborhoods leave youth with fewer opportunities to develop strong, supportive and sustained relationships with adults and peers. As a result, youth are more likely to feel disconnected from their community and have a difficult time adapting to the changing demands of various settings, cultures and expectations.
Research indicates that the positive outcomes of youth engagement – or meaningful participation and sustained involvement of a young person in an activity, with a focus outside of him or herself – are plentiful. During the act of civic engagement, youth develop meaningful positive relationships with adults in their community and demonstrate better social and emotional development. This creates a sense of belonging and leads to a significant decrease in behavioral issues. Youth who are engaged in their community are less likely to use drugs and alcohol, drop out of high school or be involved in criminal activity.
Thus, the simple act of encouraging kids to engage in their community can help facilitate future upward social and economic mobility to help strengthen communities and create economic resilience. Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver supports this framework through a variety of leadership programs and service-learning opportunities for youth. Club members have the opportunity to develop leadership skills in many ways, including holding a paid job at the Club and learning to work alongside our adult staff members and volunteers from the community, serving as formal mentors and tutors for younger Club members, or organizing and leading community service trips to local homeless shelters and senior living centers. These types of experiences can help young adults transition more smoothly to adulthood and promote a lifelong commitment to service.