- Della M. Hughes, Susan P. Curnan

In March 1993 the Guide Team of the National Network for Youth conceptualized the term "Community Youth Development" (CYD) to define a new philosophical, sociological, and educational movement which harnesses the power of youth to affect community development and, similarly, engages communities to embrace their role in the development of youth. Since that time, the National Network has worked to define CYD's core elements and to chart a course capable of mobilizing the emerging field from a vision to a blueprint for action. This article describes CYD and the development of its framework or "logic model": how it emerged, its purpose and principles, the process of formalizing its methodologies and strategies, and its outcomes and impact.

The dawning of the millennium captures our attention. A millennium, as opposed to a decade or even a century, is a remarkable unit of time. It is less comprehensible because humans have no living, first-hand memories over that span; we are aware only of what has been recorded in writing and art, and the remains of bones, artifacts, living spaces, and geological formations. Further, with the rapid rate of change we have experienced in the past 50 years, it is difficult to comprehend what may lie ahead 50 years from now, much less in 1000. We are more cognizant now than ever in history of the impact of human beings on the planet and the potential we have for creation and destruction. With this as a backdrop, the millennium marks the chance for a new beginning, or perhaps even more importantly, a chance to pause and learn from our past in order to move ahead in a way that benefits us all.

For those of us with a passion for justice, equality, and inclusiveness that emanates from every individual, family, neighborhood, town, city, state, and country--those who are committed to the development of young people and communities--this chance for reflection, focus, and action renews our hope. It is not necessary to be held hostage to the iniquities of our past and present: we have the capability to change. Our task becomes a clear articulation of our vision and principles, and the strategies and activities needed to achieve them. The result of part of this work--the development of an articulated framework for Community Youth Development--is presented in the pages that follow.

The Roots of Community Youth Development
Community Youth Development (CYD) is an affirming, yet deeply challenging approach. A cursory view of CYD raises questions and ignites both passion and fears. Most youth and community activists who have seen the framework feel a deep connection to its content and intent. It has moved many who have devoted two or more decades to this endeavor to feel the spark of their passion for the work rekindled. But many questions emerge: Is it just another way to talk about traditional youth or community development? Are the young people and families so often forgotten in communities once again being left out? Who developed CYD? How do I fit into the picture? What does CYD concretely mean for me, my organization, and community? Does CYD proscribe what I have to do? The answers to some of these questions may be addressed through an exploration of its roots.

CYD did not just emerge suddenly, full-blown, from the heads and hearts of a small group of people. Activists and youth workers in neighborhoods and communities, pioneers in youth development and school reform, radicals in the primary prevention movement--all were contributing to a climate that was ripe for the development of a holistic approach to youth and community. CYD's seeds were also evident in the key principles that have guided the direction and work of the National Network since 1975. These principles included a belief that young people have strengths, regardless of their life situations; that they should have basic rights in our society, including the right to make decisions about their lives; and that they belong in families and communities rather than institutions. The seeds, too, could be found in the very best of youth
and community work throughout history and that which is taking place every day in communities across the country. Additionally, it was built upon the knowledge, experience, and perspective of people who see across boundaries, whether they be geographic, cultural, academic, practice, or policy.

Through the process of conceptualizing and developing CYD, we have learned that it expands on the definitions of youth development and community development to create a new and larger context for youth in community. CYD assumes the involvement of young people in their own development and that of the community--in partnership with adults--to make use of their talents and increase their investment in community life. CYD is about young people actively involved in the process of developing their own identity, self worth, independence, and sense of belonging, as well as their connection to family, community, the earth, and the sacred. Key principles of CYD include creating a culture of respect and partnership, creating a just and compassionate society, creating safe space, creating a culture of appreciation, transferring practical, usable skills, being conscious stewards of relationships, and finding and living one's true calling.

Voices and stories of the young people and adult partners in the National Network speak loud and clear about the power and potential of CYD--in creating communities that are just and compassionate, where young people are valued and engaged in full and healthy development.

Despite this potential National Network members (primarily community-based, youth-focused organizations) must manage in a time of complex change that requires continuous improvement in both quality and accountability. A burgeoning youth involvement and participation movement, the increasingly complex set of risks and opportunities facing today's young people, and an increased focus on measuring program outcomes and impacts by government, the United Way, and foundation funders have accelerated the need for organizational development processes.

The CYD Framework (see pages 12 - 13) was developed in April 1999 as a result of this need. The Framework was cocreated by the National Network for Youth CYD Guide Team, staff, and members working closely with our partners at the Institute for Sustainable Development, Heller Graduate School, Brandeis University. Susan Curnan and Lisa LaCava facilitated an inclusive and clarifying process that helped us take this important step. Also called a "logic model," the Framework provides a picture of how CYD works: the way it links outcomes with program strategies as well as its undergirding theoretical assumptions and principles. The clarity of thinking that occurs from the process of building and refining the framework has become an important part of the overall success of the CYD movement.


A Social Analysis of Community Youth Development
Community youth development is a simple but profound approach. Its simplicity is rooted in very basic values and assumptions that have far-reaching implications. The implications create complexity because CYD is essentially a paradigm shift. The CYD approach holds an appreciative, holistic, relational worldview, rooted in justice and compassion. This serves as the basis for all action, as Gandhi said, "to be the change we want to see in the world." But the truth is that we live in a society that believes and behaves differently.

In order to change lives you have to work on the whole. As a society, however, we have been working on young people rather than with them. We have been ignoring broader community and societal issues and leaving young people out of important dialogue. And when we do address community issues, young people are seldom involved as partners in community creation, maintenance, and change. Youth are often viewed as persons who are "not fully developed"; who are "going through a stage" that will "thankfully" end sometime in their twenties. Recently, with the increase in publicity about youth-related violence, teenagers are also seen as dangerous and frightening beings. Young people are bearing the brunt of our fear and unwillingness to collectively create a society that values and welcomes their participation.

In general, we have not created healthy environments where people can thrive and flourish. In particular, our youth-serving system tends to be based on a deficit-driven model that is not equipped to create space for healthy development and relationships. This system can be partially characterized by the following:

• Inconsistent and fragmented services delivered by inadequately prepared youth and community workers.
• Programs that are non-community focused and further increase disconnectedness, dependence, and fragmentation.
• Vague values and philosophy of practice which results in an idiosyncratic approach.
• Youth and community workers who are over-specialized and over-protective.
• Practice that is externally driven.
• Professional groups that compete for turf.
• Political motivations that direct funding of youth and community work rather than need.
• History and learning that get muddled.

In the end, what began as an effort to create better social, psychological, environmental, and physical health for all young people has evolved into a "diagnosed problem" model of treatment, which fails to look at the whole person in the context of families and communities. Youth are seen as a collection of problems instead of future parents, neighbors, and workers who need maximum adult involvement, teaching, and encouragement to grow and be productive citizens. What began as an effort to have just, safe, and economically viable communities has evolved primarily into the creation of affordable housing and jobs for adults. In this system, neighborhood development was viewed in economic terms rather than more comprehensively.

Despite these discouraging conditions, there are still creative, dedicated, inventive people doing youth and community work. CYD focuses on how we can harness this energy, creativity, and dedication of both youth and adults to create systems and communities that fully engage young people in their own development and in building sustainable community.

The Need for a CYD Framework
Still, over the past seven years, communication about CYD has been limited and uneven. To start with, while elements of the approach were evident in many different settings (service learning, community schools, empowerment and enterprise zones, and street outreach come to mind), there was no one unifying model to build upon. In addition, a picture of the whole was held only by a few, many of whom were simultaneously learning and being called upon to articulate the approach to others. This often resulted in ideas that were neither fully formed nor set in a context that facilitated full participation. Last, the transformation of CYD principles into action has been spotty, for principles alone don't sufficiently convey what people need to know to fully grasp the approach.

The CYD Framework was created to address these challenges--particularly to set CYD forth in a clear and straightforward manner. The model itself is not only a tool for education, but for engaging others in co-creation of the strategies and activities necessary to advance CYD.

The Framework that follows*is a working draft, and will always will be as such because of the evolutionary nature of our goals. If our collective work is successful, we will hone the principles (assumptions) and outcomes, and use them as our compass for developing and implementing strategies and activities. Theoretically, the strategies--and especially the activities--should be more flexible, to enable customization of particular locales and situations. Regardless, those who learn to use the tool will have a template for their own work: the focus can readily be adapted for many types of organizations. For example, the National Network customized its own CYD framework to address its specific part of the CYD effort by adding "youth who face greater odds because of abuse, neglect, family conflicts, and disconnection from family, lack of resources, community prejudice, differing abilities and other life challenges, and community-based organizations working with youth, families, and communities" (see the"For Whom" section in the chart).

Table 1 Building a Framework for CYD

Sidebar 1 Getting Ready for Outcome Evaluation: Developing a Logic Model