Flavor of Youthful Innovation

Newsprint is spread all over the floor. Only a handful of young people remain in the room. A young man and woman are editing one part of the report as the introduction is typed into a laptop computer by another delegate. These youth are resources who can enhance Exten-sion's problem-solving processes and solutions-if only we will involve them. In 1990, I facilitated a group of 53 youth and 14 adults from 38 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada in a National 4-H Conference Consulting Group on Creating Partnerships to address Youth At Risk. The process used and much of the content of their discussions weren't captured in the final conference document, but are important to our understanding of youth as resources for Extension.

Lofquist describes three forces affecting how human service organizations approach prevention and promote positive change within communities:1 (1) an inertia that entrenches us in traditional activities and prevents creative thinking, risk taking, and collaboration with others; (2) the structure of our institutions that can dictate program by imposing budget and staff requirements that don't fit local conditions, culture, or creative programming; and (3) the developmental process approach that works from the ground up to build around the concerns of people as they decide to bring about change,

Youth aren't yet saddled with the inertia and structure that often inhibit creativity. This was evident at the conference when the adults were often delighted with creative ideas and sometimes bit their tongues to keep from explaining why something couldn't be done or has been tried before. The youth delegates' suggestions ranged from illegal (grow marijuana as a cash crop to raise funds for prevention programs) to impractical (kidnap all the key players and take them to the Caribbean until they solve the problems) to sincere (integrate law enforcement and social services). All ideas were included in the "working papers." While the final report was much more practical and realistic, the flavor of youthful innovation remained.

The developmental approach used at the conference begins with a recognition of a condition that needs to be addressed, analyzes and describes the condition, creates visions of more desirable outcomes, and plans strategies to effect change. Substance abuse, self-esteem, teen pregnancy, illiteracy, and school dropout were identified as community concerns to be addressed through partnerships. In small groups, delegates shared the information they gathered at home.

The groups brainstormed, discussed, prioritized, and came to consensus about community conditions that will support partnerships, the characteristics of proactive coalitions, and strategies to encourage change. Strategies included forming local councils to encourage partnerships, addressing community issues, and increasing resource awareness and use.

The auditorium was quiet as the Creating Partnerships group delivered its oral report to the panel of experts and the other 332 delegates. Instead of bowing to the structure of a formal delivery, the group chose to model a local partnership council meeting. They played their roles well to show the various community interests.

The young people participated in a developmental process they can use again and again in their clubs, schools, and communities on any problem or issue. They shared some creative, silly, brave, new, hairbrained, brilliant ideas with the adults in the group to create something new and valuable.

Both the process and the report have implications for all of Extension's National Initiatives-not just Youth at Risk. Complex social problems present challenges requiring a variety of solutions that use human, financial, and material resources as wisely and creatively as possible. Youth are resources who can affect our problem-solving processes and products. Let's use them!

1. William A. Lofquist, Discovering the Meaning of Prevention (Tucson, Arizona: Associates for Youth Development, Inc., 1983).