Service Forum: Youth Development

A forum that focused on the potential of service as a strategy for youth development. Participants sought ways to encourage the youth and service communities to exchange information about what works. The conclusion was that leaders in the two fields should work together more closely.

This meeting was held in Boston on June 10, 2004, and it was the first in a series of three designed to follow up on an ICP Forum held in May 2003. Titled: "The Impact of National Service on Critical Social Issues," it focused on the areas of youth development in out-of-school time, rural development, and independent living for seniors. The goals of the forum include:

To illustrate the potential of service as a strategy for youth development.
Encourage the youth and service communities to exchange information about what works.
And, inspire leaders in the two fields to work together more closely.

Approximately 40 participants from national service programs, youth development organizations, researchers, advocacy organizations, and policymakers attended the meeting. Distilled recommendations from the May forum were provided to participants during the June 2004 event. The forum was made up of a panel session, and attendees broke into small groups to discuss specific aspects of the topic and arrive at next steps.

Cosponsors for this meeting included the Afterschool Alliance, Citizen Schools, Corporation for National and Community Service, Massachusetts 20/20, and Massachusetts Campus Compact. Others were: Massachusetts Service Alliance, National Collaboration for Youth, The After School Corporation, Tufts University College of Citizenship and Public Service, and Tufts University Center for Children.

ICP published a report on the June 2004 Forum. The document summarizes the content of the one-day meeting, and provides recommendations for policymakers, funders, and national organizations for promoting service as a strategy in a youth development context.

Please click here to download a copy of the report in PDF format.