Developing Youth Power

Youth Organizing Groups Are Engaging in Systems Transformation and Youth Development in California

In this research series, we share findings from a multiyear study of California’s youth organizing groups and how they are building sustainable movements for long-term systems transformation. These groups go beyond youth issues to address community-wide concerns, combining holistic youth development practices with complex social change strategies. They call on partners in philanthropy to meet this moment by providing flexible and sustainable resources and joining authentic opportunities to learn alongside and from the field.  

We share our findings by theme in seven interconnected sections, which can be accessed separately and in any order.

View the full interactive document here. View the complete PDF document here. 

View shorter pdfs of each section by clicking on the title below:  

• Executive Summary
• Research Methods
• Organizing for Youth Development 
• Creating a Leadership Pipeline  
• Balancing Short-Term Goals with a Long-Term Vision 
• Combining Insider and Outsider Strategies
• Addressing the Social, Political, and Economic Climate 
• Understanding The California Funding Context 
• Expanding Support for Youth Organizing in California 
• Glossary & References