Hampton, Virginia, a 400-year old city once dubbed “Crabtown” for its abundant seafood, has an exciting new natural resource: youth as change agents. In April 2007, 40 community leaders from coast to coast gathered there for an “Innovations Site Visit” to learn more about the city’s award-winning, holistic model for youth civic engagement.
Concerned that young people were increasingly disconnected from the real (read: natural) world, actress and teacher Barbara Sarbin turned a county farm into a hands-on Earth School. Here’s a look at how she did it.
Located just a few blocks away from the U.S. Capitol, the Earth Conservation Corps is far removed from the world of legislators, lobbyists and policymakers. ECC provides a striking example of a program that engages young people in protecting the environment while learning valuable lessons about life in the process. CFK intern Kate Carta profiled the organization.
Research shows that as many as 60 percent of students are "chronically disengaged" from school. This report from the Coalition for Community Schools offers evidence that community-based learning—which integrates different strategies, including service learning, place-based education, environmental and civic education, and work and community service—can help re-engage students using real-world content and issues. The community-based approach is linked with higher attendance rates, improved academic performance, and on-time graduation.
The National League of Cities is "meeting young people where they are"—online! This site helps active youth leaders connect with others and share ideas on how to improve their communities. It includes online discussion forums, blogs by young activists, and a list of upcoming events.
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