Youth participation in community evaluation and research is a process of involving young people in knowledge development at the community level. It includes efforts by young people to organize their own research projects, by adults to involve youth in evaluation of institutions and agencies, and by youth and adults to work together in intergenerational partnerships. These initiatives are increasing in communities nationwide, but remain relatively undeveloped as a field of practice or subject of study, and more knowledge will contribute to their scope and quality.

This special issue, put together by guest editors Barry Checkoway and Leslie Goodyear, will examine concepts and techniques for involving young people in community evaluation and research. It will include information on specific strategies for strengthening youth participation, age-appropriate and culturally-competent methods, training curricula for capacity building, roles for youth and adults as citizens and collaborators, best practices, and lessons learned from empirically-based practice. It will draw upon a national symposium, which brought together people with commitment to youth participation, community organization, and program evaluation, including representatives of youth groups, community-based organizations, civic agencies, private foundations, and educational institutions.

Look for this special edition in early April, 2003.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editor's Notes
Leslie Goodyear, Barry Checkoway

Youth Participation in Community Evaluation Research as an Emerging Social Movement
Barry Checkoway, David Dobbie, Katie Richards-Schuster

Engaging Young People in Evaluation as a Strategy for Evaluation Field-Building and Innovation
Leslie Goodyear

Friends Inviting Friends: Participant-Driven Recruitment in an HIV Prevention Research Project
Jennifer Tiffany, Alexanderia Chastening, Brian Frost, Patricia Enekwe, Amy Bianchi, Sarah Young, Dina Bishara

Youth as Community Researchers: The Sarasota County Demonstration Project
Kelli R. McCormack, Robert J. McDermott, Carol A. Bryant, Melinda S. Forthofer

Getting to Go: Assessing and Building Organizational Capacity to Engage in Youth-Led Research, Evaluation, and Planning
Kristen Zimmerman,Jonathan London

Using Youth Development's Tool Kit in Evaluation Work with Youth
Alicia Wilson

Map It! And Turn Up the Volume of Youth Voices
June P. Mead

Research, Evaluation, and Grassroots Youth Empowerment
Taj James