Youth Be Heard

Theory

Youth Be Heard stands on Positive Youth Development (PYD) and Media Literacy theories. 

Positive Youth Development

As much as possible, youth lead. From designing graphics to sending weekly email writing prompts, to guiding the direction and vision of the organization- we have seen youth rise to the occasion! We have an active Youth Advisory Board where youth opinion, talents, and interests propel us forward. 

What is Positive Youth Development?

Rather than taking the typical psychological approach of “what’s wrong with you?” or “What is broken and what needs to be fixed?” Positive Youth Development looks at what’s right and what skills youth have that the world needs. “PYD has its origins in the field of prevention. In the past, prevention efforts typically focused on single problems before they surfaced in youth, such as teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and juvenile delinquency” (youth.gov, 2018). Over time, experts realized that rather than taking a deficit view, promoting positive asset building and considering youth as resources were critical strategies to helping youth thrive.

The principles of PYD promoted by YBH include:

  • Focus on strengths and positive outcomes. Rather than taking a deficit-based approach, communities intentionally help young people build on their strengths and develop the competencies, values, and connections they need for life and work.
  • Youth voice and engagement. Youth are valued partners who have meaningful, decision-making roles in programs and communities.
  • Strategies that involve all youth. Communities support and engage all youth rather than focusing solely on “high-risk” or “gifted” youth.
  • Community involvement and collaboration. Positive youth development includes but reaches beyond programs; it promotes organizational change and collaboration for community change. All sectors have a role to play in making the community a great place to grow up.

PYD research shows that cultivating youth’s passions through skill-building opportunities, mentorship around those interests, and empowering them to use their voice for the good predicts positive outcomes more significantly than do demographics. The outcomes are better psychological, academic, social, and behavioral well-being and more contribution to social good (Scales et al. 2011. Adolescent thriving: the role of sparks… J Youth Adolescence).

However, less than 10% of 15-year-olds report experiencing these supports (Scales, et al. 2011). Why is age 15 important? Because that’s when many other good youth-serving programs end and teens are just starting high school. They are growing in capacity and asking tough questions. They are looking to the outside world more than ever before as they expand their horizons beyond their families.

Youth Be Heard (YBH) puts research into practice by elevating youth thought, experience, and creativity. Matched with a skilled mentor, encouragement and editing prepare youth work for publishing on our site: youthbeheard.org. We also work to guide and encourage youth in submitting to other reputable publications.

YBH’s Strengths-Based Writing Program (SBWP) provides guidance, a safe writing environment, and helps them think big. We encourage youth to take creative risks- overcoming the fear of failure and perfectionism- knowing their stories are valuable and needed.

Media Literacy

We consider ourselves a Media literacy organization. And we identify with critical media literacy – because we recognize the importance of cultivating marginalized voices- which includes all youth. 

It is the dominant in our society who are naturally cultivated and nurtured to have the confidence to speak out- which results in an imbalance in the narratives shaping our society. So, to change the media landscape to have a more balanced representation, it starts by instilling confidence in those who are marginalized.

This is long term work aimed at shifting the media landscape to have a more balanced representation of the narratives shaping our society. We are a stepping stone for youth to grow into being the confident and mindful voices that are needed in our collective futures.

The primary way we do this is by encouraging youth to recognize their own value, to be creators of media, and by offering writing prompts that get youth to consider thinking critically about the media they consume. We are where media literacy, social work, and the arts overlap. 

What is Media Literacy?

 
Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication. In its simplest terms, media literacy builds upon the foundation of traditional literacy and offers new forms of reading and writing. Media literacy empowers people to be critical thinkers and makers, effective communicators, and active citizens (namle.net, 2017).

Media Literacy is the ability to identify different types of media and the messages that are being sent.

It helps youth:

    • Learn to think critically.

    • Become a smart consumer of products and information.

    • Recognize different points of view.

    • Create media responsibly. 

    • Identify the role of media in our culture.

    • Become a creator rather than just a consumer.

    • Understand the author’s goal.

Youth Be Heard gives youth an opportunity to create media responsibly, and in doing so, trains them to be critical thinkers when consuming media. It fulfills the piece often missing in Media Literacy workshops where youth can create, and then have the opportunity to publish on youthbeheard.org. Publishing (sharing reactions and observations) is a key step in The Experiential Learning Cycle. Knowing the piece will be published turns the learning into reality. YBH provides real-life media creation opportunities that can support media literacy coursework. 

If you made it this far, high-five. You’re officially a research wonk!