This paper details the psychosocial changes in a group of gifted and talented middle-years students who engaged in solving a community-based problem--the lack of a teenage-safe space in their regional Queensland town ("N"). Supported by a Knowledge Producing Schools pedagogy, the young people worked with their local council, teachers, a…

Participants in the New York State School and Business Alliance program, which is designed to strengthen the partnership among public schools, the private sector, communities, and government are working to improve secondary education as well as the quality of the youth labor force. The Alliance Development Committee (ADC) of Yonkers, New York…

This newsletter issue presents articles on the development of youth resiliency through caring relationships with adults, high expectations, engaging activities, and opportunities to make decisions and contributions. Youth development programs and the experiences of teachers, parents, and adolescents are described, organized in five categories:…

In a year long study of youth employment, interviews were conducted with 3,130 young people aged 14 to 21 from urban, suburban, and rural areas of New York State. Peer interviewers were employed for data collection. Data were gathered on the youths' employment-related characteristics, socio-economic backgrounds, aspirations, attitudes toward work…

Vocational education's primary goal--to prepare people for work--underscores the vital role the discipline can play in upgrading the employability of disadvantaged youth. Those who have received vocational training are more likely to stay in school and receive higher salaries than other workers with comparable education at every level from high…

While strongly supporting the passage of the Youth Act of 1980 (S-2385), the American Vocational Association (AVA) contends that improvements are needed in the bill in order to effect optimal linkages between employment and education agencies toward solving the youth unemployment problem. Specific changes would (1) further the potential of…

A case study was made of comprehensive efforts to get young people to identify with the core ideals of the parental generation through youth organizations in Israel, where over 90% of the adolescents report an active involvement in one or more of three nationwide programs: youth movements, sponsored by political parties and the Scouts; the…

This volume contains 14 essays and commentaries on youth development penned by educators, policymakers, and leaders of youth development organizations. The papers, written to commemorate 10 years of American Youth Policy Forum's service, were originally presented at a forum in Washington, D.C., in January 2003. Following are the papers:…