It's exciting to see the signs of adult support for youth voices and participation multiplying. It's important and it's time. Here is just a sampler of this encouraging trend: Agency for citizenship. In Internet safety circles, we're seeing increasing focus on citizenship (online and offline) rather than on safety alone – safety as a means to competent participation and expression in … [Read more...] about Youth participation’s growing momentum
activism
Student bullying-prevention activists, leaders, mentors
Probably any number of things could inspire a student to become an activist, but in 16-year-old Ali's case, it was "an English homework assignment about marginalized groups in society," The Gazette, in Lisbon, Iowa, reported. "She realized they needed a voice," apparently thought about how kids can get marginalized in bullying types of situations, and emailed Lisbon Community Schools' dean of … [Read more...] about Student bullying-prevention activists, leaders, mentors
Why social media help private citizens want to help solve public problems
A few years ago, during the huge flap among Facebook users about its then new "News Feed," a journalist asked Mark Zuckerberg why it was so important to have that new feature, author/activist Eli Pariser relates in a TED Talk. Zuckerberg responded, "A squirrel dying in front of your house may be more relevant to your interests right now than people dying in Africa." Whether or not Zuckerberg … [Read more...] about Why social media help private citizens want to help solve public problems