Like many Community Youth Development organizations, community-based organizations that run wellness villages are deeply committed to sharing power with youth. But with that commitment comes a unique set of challenges, particularly with respect to engaging youth in the full range of planning, decision-making, and implementation activities. For many wellness villages these challenges-such as adult participation, balancing power, and appreciating differences-often warrant special attention in the form of technical assistance (TA). As this process unfolds, we have learned valuable lessons that can be applied to other CYD organizations.

Adult participation. We have found that while youth tend to be active and prominent in the program and community, their parents are not. Organizations must engage youth while also engaging their parents and other adults in the community to jointly buy into and support the program efforts. Oftentimes this takes the form of adults participating in advisory groups or as mentors. Involving adults seems particularly difficult in communities that, over time, have suffered economic hardship. Adults are tired, overworked, and sometimes overwhelmed. They rely on community activities to "fix" the youth or give the parents a break. In these communities, TA strategies should focus on creating programs that attract adults and foster a positive enriching experience for families.

Balancing power. Balancing power between youth and adults can be problematic. It is often easier to create an all-youth program than to confront intergenerational and cultural issues that occur in shared settings. Fostering youth and adult partnerships requires substantial time and resources as well as unwavering commitment to developing these relationships. In the end the struggle seems to be worth the effort. As youth and adult participants grapple with their new roles, they grow individually and collectively in the process.

Appreciating differences. "Adults are rigid." "Youth are irresponsible." It is often difficult for adults and youth to make personal growth shifts because of long-held stereotypes of one another. Projects seldom slow up enough to allow time to recognize each member or group's contributions. For example, adults bring stability and experience to program activities, while youth typically bring flexibility and energy. However, instead of capitalizing on these assets, team members often criticize others for being different. The goal of leaders is to create an environment where teammates feel safe and valued for their natural gifts.