Civic Engagement and Advocacy in Rural Wisconsin: Youth Development Through Legislative Forums

Doug Liphart, Neil James Klemme, Ian B. Meeker

Abstract


Youth Development programming that engages youth to work side by side with local leaders creates an environment where youth develop civic skills. These skills include a greater understanding of the legislative process, their role in our democracy, and increased engagement in the democratic process. Through their participation in the Superior Days Legislative Forum, youth increase their civic skills, are inspired to create change in their communities, ask questions and respond to challenges by bringing legislative issues of concern unique to their community to the entire representative body at the state capitol. Youth delegates also gain experience partnering with adults from their communities, establish healthy developmental relationships, and expand their social networks. This article draws from research related to civic engagement, youth in decision-making roles, and programming intended to raise youth voice to make community change. This paper uses focus group interviews as well as post-then-pre-program surveys to understand the impact of the Superior Days Legislative Forum on youth participants.


Keywords


civic engagement; social capital; civic skills; youth–adult partnerships

Full Text:

PDF

References


Anderson, C., Baker, B., Brown, M., Calvert, M., Fields, N., Henness, S., Klemme, N., Nathaniel, K. C., & Lonning, J. (2019). Contribution of 4-H participation to the development of social capital within communities: Toolkit. National 4-H.

Arnold, M. E. (2018). From context to outcomes: A thriving model for 4-H youth development programs. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 6(1). https://www.jhseonline.com/article/view/653

Benson, P. L., Scales, P. C., Hamilton, S. F., & Sesma Jr, A. (2006). Positive youth development: Theory, research, and applications. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470147658.chpsy0116

Bourdieu, P. (1986). The forms of capital. In J. Richardson (Ed.), Handbook of theory and research for the sociology of education, pp. 241–258. Greenwood.

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Camino, L., & Zeldin, S. (2002). From periphery to center: Pathways for youth civic engagement in the day-to-day life of communities. Applied Developmental Science, 6(4), 213–220. https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532480XADS0604_8

Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. (2013). All together now: Collaboration and innovation for youth engagement (Report of the Commission on Youth Voting and Civic Knowledge). www.civicyouth.org/about-circle/commission-on-youth-voting-civic-knowledge/

Doolittle, A., & Faul, A. C. (2013). Civic engagement scale: A validation study. Sage Open, 3(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244013495542

Flanagan, C. A., & Faison, N. (2001). Youth civic development: Implications of research for social policy and programs. Civic Engagement. Paper 11. http://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/slceciviceng/11

Flanagan, C. A., & Levine, P. (2008). Civic engagement and the transition to adulthood. The Future of Children, 20(1), 149–179. https://doi.org/10.1353/foc.0.0043

Guest, G., MacQueen, K. M., & Namey, E. E. (2012). Introduction to applied thematic analysis. In G. Guest, K. M. MacQueen, & E. E. Namey (Eds.), Applied thematic analysis, (pp. 3–20). https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483384436.n1

Henness, S. A., Ball, A. L., & Moncheski, M. (2013). A community development approach to service‐learning: Building social capital between rural youth and adults. New Directions for Youth Development, 2013(138), 75–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/yd.20059

National 4-H Council. (2020). Beyond the gap; How America can address the widening opportunity gap facing young people. https://4-h.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Beyond-the-Gap-White-paper.pdf

Niemi, R. G., & Junn, J. (1998). Civic education: What makes students learn. Yale University Press.

Norman, J. (2001). Building effective youth-adult partnerships. IAPAC Monthly, 7(12), 323–326.

Pittman, K. (1999). The power of youth engagement. Youth Today, 8, 63.

Schlegel, A., & Barry, H., III. (1991). Adolescence: An anthropological inquiry. Free Press.

Sherrod, L. R., Flanagan, C., & Youniss, J. (2002). Dimensions of citizenship and opportunities for youth development: The what, why, when, where, and who of citizenship development. Applied Developmental Science, 6(4), 264–272. https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532480XADS0604_14

Torney-Purta, J. (2000). Comparative perspectives on political socialization and civic education. Comparative Education Review, 44(1), 88–95.

White, R., & Wyn, J. (1998). Youth agency and social context. Journal of sociology, 34(3), 314–327. https://doi.org/10.1177/144078339803400307

Zeldin, S., McDaniel, A. K., Topitzes, D., & Calvert, M. (2000). Youth in decision-making: A study on the impacts of youth on adults and organizations. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.

Zeldin, S., Christens, B. D., & Powers, J. L. (2013). The psychology and practice of youth-adult partnership: Bridging generations for youth development and community change. American journal of community psychology, 51(3), 385–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-012-9558-y




DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2022.1194

Copyright (c) 2022 Doug Liphart, Neil James Klemme, Ian B. Meeker

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.