Building Civic Leadership: The Journeys of Pre-Adolescent Youth

Abstract

Studies of younger youth suggest that the path to civic leadership and the development of associated skills and attitudes is not linear. Instead, these studies suggest that as youth learn to act as agents of change, their real world experiences may create dissonance in their civic skills and attitudes. The reported current study employs qualitative methods to examine the experiences of urban, low-income, youth of color who participated in a civic leadership curriculum. Findings give voice to youth’s experiences and the tension that can occur on their journeys toward civic leadership. Implications are discussed.