Empowering youth to speak up about issues that matter to them is an important step toward self-awareness and community advocacy. This is especially true because young people are often receiving messages from television, newspapers, social media, their parents, teachers and peers that may be confusing or disturbing.
4-H is an organization that fosters a sense of belonging among youth and encourages contributions from a diverse population. As the Baltimore County 4-H educator, I have seen youth who have lived through real life examples of civil unrest and felt like they had nowhere to turn. I have also encountered youth who want to talk about social justice issues but are afraid to say the wrong thing. Youth need support in order to process disturbing events in their community. Youth-serving organizations can offer a brave space to help them deal with what they see and live.
In July 2020, the National 4-H Council conducted a survey of 1,000 youth to learn more about their feelings and perceptions related to racism. Black and Hispanic teens were more likely to have experienced mistreatment because of their race; in fact, Black youth reported being more likely to fear for their safety. The study also explored youth opinions on the protests of 2020 and the social justice movement.
Vernelle Mitchell-Hawkins, M.S. serves as a 4-H Educator at the University of Maryland Extension.
When asked about making change in the community, teens called for racism education in school. Eighty-two percent of teens believed that “there is still so much work to be done in the fight against racism.” They also suggested government reform in order to create equal access to opportunities for long-term change. In the same study, two-thirds of respondents said that they “need people to hear their voice about racism.”
The art of listening and speaking is paramount to meaningful change. Civil discourse is an important skill to teach youth. It is rooted in mutual respect among participants. Civil discourse gives youth the opportunity to listen, speak, and act. These are the building blocks of “Youth Voice.” This concept allows youth to “have a seat at the table” and empowers them to give input on issues that are important to them.
Guiding conversations
When youth have the opportunity to influence opinions, advocate for community issues, and educate others, they are empowered to effect systemic change. The following are guidelines youth-serving organizations and facilitators may find useful in guiding constructive and safe conversations about difficult topics:
Before:
- Set the stage for civil discourse.
- Be intentional about the expectations of the conversation. In a group setting this can mean setting “ground rules” for the discussion, including thoughts on how each member wants to be treated and how to react if participants fall short of those expectations.
During:
- Help the group to understand that everyone has purpose and their views are valuable.
- When facilitating conversations involving youth, it is important to lead with heart. Bring your authentic self to the table. Youth want someone who will be “real.”
- It is OK not to have all the answers.
- Be careful not to lead or influence the viewpoints of the participants unless fact-based information is needed to clarify an area of misunderstanding.
- Encourage youth to remember that civil discourse is dialogue between two or more persons that is respectful, fair and free of charged emotional responses. When listening, members should be encouraged to listen for understanding before speaking.
- The facilitator may want to pose a series of open-ended questions. This gives an opportunity for deeper conversations among participants. Examples of open-ended questions could include:
What do you think about _________________ (what is happening)?
I wonder how it would feel to …
Why do you think this happened?
What else do you need to know about this topic?
What might you change about this?
What will you do to make a difference?
After:
- Wrap up the conversation by giving a word of gratitude for the time spent.
- Highlight key points gained or lessons learned.
- Ask if there is anything else they want to know more about related to the conversation.
- Offer a safe space for youth to decide to take action. What can they do? How can they help?
Civil discourse is a powerful tool for youth that are invested in their community. In fact, being able to listen for understanding and speak with empathy is valuable in many areas of life. It can be the difference between positive change and continued division. Youth that are equipped to have civil discourse can become strong leaders who will move our society toward “a more perfect union.” History has shown that youth voices are a catalyst for change. The question now is: What type of voice will they have?
For more information:
4-H Positive Youth Development – www.4-H.org
4-H Youth Voice – https://4-h.org/parents/youth-voices/
4-H Teens and Racial Justice Survey – https://4-h.org/about/research/#!teen-perspectives
Vernelle Mitchell-Hawkins, M.S. serves as a 4-H Educator at the University of Maryland Extension. Her work focuses on STEM and workforce development, while advocating for diversity and equity of programs within the community.
