Age range

Website: www.youthtogether.net

Mission/Goals: Grounded in our commitment to unity, peace, and justice, Youth Together addresses the root causes of educational inequities by developing multiracial youth organizers and engaging school community allies to promote positive school change.

Notes: Youth Together was created as a community-based response to inter-racial conflicts and violence in Oakland's school communities. School officials, mental health workers, and parents were reporting increased incidents of inter-racial conflicts and violence in school communities, including group attacks on youth based upon racial identity. In response, community leaders and activists convened parents and public and school officials to assess the problems and determine proactive solutions. The outcome of these meetings in 1995 was a commitment to work collaboratively to address the underlying conditions that contribute to the racial tension and poor developmental outcomes of students. This commitment led to the formation of Youth Together in 1996. The community leaders and activists who founded Youth Together believed that social, political, community, and educational inequities were at the root of these tense conditions at schools; and that youth must take the leadership in creating long-term solutions. In 1997, YT student teams at each target school, representing the diversity of the student body, assessed the needs of students in their schools. In every needs-assessment, the overwhelming majority of students was concerned about problems in their schools and wanted to participate in creating positive solutions, if provided the opportunities. Youth Together has been able to provide the vehicle for young people and other community members to empower themselves by coming together to advance the health and wellness needs and rights of our school community members. YT is working with the Chicago Multicultural Youth Project to replicate the YT model in Chicago.

Source(s): www.youthtogether.net;
www.guidestar.org

Type of Evaluation: Outcomes Monitoring (Pre/Post-Test).

Note: Youth Together has been utilizing empowerment evaluation techniques in a longitudinal evaluation study led by Dr. Pedro Noguera, currently with Harvard University's School of Education. Youth Together's current evaluation study is a partnership effort with Dr. Joe Malloy, principal of Kensington Research Group, a research and evaluation agency that has worked extensively with community based organizations and schools, including evaluating youth prevention programs. The Executive Summary from YT's evaluation study is summarized below. Both internal assessments and external reports were used to compile the following summary of outcome results for the YT Program (data are from the 2000-2001 program year).

Impact/Outcomes: Outcomes for Youth
Leaders include: 1) Increased academic
engagement (32% decrease in truancy; 18%
increase in positive school attitudes; 0% drop-out rate, even among students who were formerly in danger of dropping out; and 92% college attendance among recent graduates); 2) Increased resiliency (positive changes in behaviors such as fighting, gang involvement, substance abuse, and coping mechanisms); 3) Significant influence on participants' positive relationships with adults and peers; 4) Significant increase in leadership and community connection; 5) Significant impact in ability to resolve conflict peacefully; and 6) Significant impact on cross-cultural understanding. Outcomes for Summer Program Mentees include: 1) 100% report having had positive experiences with their mentors; 2) 96% report increased skills, knowledge, and/or perspectives regarding racial stereotypes and prejudice; and 3) Increase in perceived leadership abilities.
Outcomes for YT Club members include: 1) Increased leadership and community connection (46% average positive change in multiple areas); 2) Influence on the prevention of fighting; 3) Improvement in cross-cultural understanding; and 4) Significant impacts on positive relationships.
Outcomes for Community Sites include: 1)
Decrease in inter-racial violence at schools that have had problems with this type of violence; and 2) Positive changes in school environment and atmosphere (e.g., increased perceived and expressed feelings of unity). Other changes attributed to YT include: 1) Increased collaboration between YT students and school staff; 2) The creation of community collaborations involving youth, school staff, parents, policy makers, and
community leaders; 3) Increased civic engagement among YT youth; 4) Changes in attitudes among adults in the school communities toward youth; 5) Changes in school policies to reflect student perspectives; 6) Institutional changes (e.g., garnered funds from city and county governments to fund YT programs and initiatives); and 7) the creation of multiple forums, meetings, and community collaboratives to address youth issues and community needs.