CYD Journal: a new name, a new direction for our publication. New Designs for Youth Development has served us well for 16 years. And while its retirement may cause twinges of loss and nostalgia, we think that the new emphasis on "CYD" clarifies our mission: the vision driving this publication is about Community Youth Development.

With our true grassroots history and constituency, we are the leading publication in the field of community and youth development. It is our mission to extol and extend the voice of CYD as part of a dynamic international movement. To achieve this we are committed to expanding our readership and influencing all constituents who are, or may become, engaged in community youth development. Youth workers, activists, educators; politicians, public policy analysts, policy makers; youth, parents, scholars; human resource departments, foundations, unions, and professional associations--we invite you to learn more about this exciting new principle; to become involved with youth as partners to build better communities throughout the world.

Healthy communities begin with adults and youth joining at the local level--for instance, to improve schools; to expand programming at the "Y," Boys and Girls Clubs, or 4-H organizations; and to advocate for political reform. Similarly, partnerships must form at the regional, national, and international levels, among the many youth-serving and community development organizations, and with a commitment to including youth in policymaking decisions. CYD is in the interest of the whole community.

But just what is CYD? Its vision, its promise, its values? CYD conjures an activist view of history, where change is willful and intentional. Cynicism, predeterminism and fatalism are not part of the credo. In this regard I am reminded of the work Robert Rosenthal and Leanore Jacobson, who, back in the '60s, gave scientific credence to the phenomenon of the self-fulfilling prophecy in the classroom. Teachers had low expectations for minority students and acted to fulfill them; students performed accordingly. Earlier, the sociologist R.K. Merton noted that the cause of the fall of the banks during the great depression was a result of self -fulfilling prophesy. People thought the banks were going to fail: people withdrew their money, and indeed the banks failed. Since that time, research has demonstrated this is a generalizable and significant phenomenon of human behavior. Expectancy commands a powerful influence over behavior--negative and positive--which accounts for its potency as a self-fulfilling prophesy.

CYD provides a prophesy for growth and change; for a new and larger context for youth in community. It is not a program or set of programs, but rather a movement promoting human diversity, community, and equality. These principles are articulated in the lead article "Community Youth Development: A Framework for Action," by Della Hughes and Susan Curnan. The authors provide a precise and accessible picture of this new philosophical, sociological, and educational movement; its purpose and principles, the process of formalizing its methodoliges and strategies; and its outcomes and impact. We also point you to Craig Kielburger's interview, which speaks to the need for intergenerational dialogue and a call to action, as we collectively set our compass to the promise of CYD.

As we move forward in the field of youth and community work, we must have a clear, well thought-out set of expectations and a means to fulfill them. CYD needs to permeate the culture and norms of our communities and societies. As Karen Pittman says in her article, "we have to work carefully. . . to identify or create the public ideas that undergird a sustained effort to bring all young people into the civic, social, and economic arenas of their communities as lifelong learners, workers, and change agents." We, in effect, need to create our own self-fulfilling prophecy.

The theme of our Spring issue is spirituality, and the importance it plays in the healthy development of youth and communities. Spirituality is a basic human ingredient, with multiple domains and forms of expression, of which formal religion is but one. A void in spirituality--and this is a critical point--may lead to emptiness, frustration, and severe consequences for youth and society. Join us in the next issue as we explore this important domain of youth and community development.

John P. Terry, Editor-in-Chief