We’re learning and practicing new ways to amplify young voices and develops meaningful youth-adult partnerships at CultureWorks.
The morning after our Fall Benefit I (Miranda) was up early driving to Lansing, savoring the evening before as I watched the sun rise. It was so sweet to share a night with the extended CultureWorks community, bringing students, parents, board members, teachers, donors, volunteers, civic leaders and non-profit partners around common tables to share a meal. We heard Zoe Sample sing, Jax Zavala spoke about growing as an artist and individual, and Emily led us in communal art-making. I’m a sappy human, so you’ll have to forgive me saying that my heart was so full.
While the Fall Benefit was a joyous celebration of what CultureWorks is right now, the morning drive afterwards was all about our hopes for the future. Early in the autumn we received an invite from the Neutral Zone in Ann Arbor to apply for a Cohort of Practice in Youth Directed Spaces, co-hosted by the Michigan Afterschool Partnership. CoP in YDS for short. (Yes, the absurdity of saying that many letters makes me chuckle, too!) Since November I’ve had the privilege of learning with a cohort of professionals at youth-serving organizations all over the state. We’ve been together in person just once, but have met every few weeks since then via Zoom to continue our work together.
So far we’ve done about 24 hours worth of trainings, and we’ve covered a lot of ground. (Did you know that in many countries, “youth” extends up to age 28? There’s also research coming out to say that our brain isn’t fully developed until then!) We’ve learned about social location and the importance of recognizing who we are and who our students are when we think about serving them well. We’ve learned about necessary factors for young people to thrive as they develop, intrinsic motivation, and youth-adult partnerships. We’ve read a lot of social science papers about factors that will help us to partner with youth and empower them to take on greater responsibility and leadership in our space. We’ve learned a framework for developing a Teen Advisory Council that will help us better support our current Student Advisory Council. We even had a six hour training on restorative practices, as we think about how to create spaces where people feel safe and have tools for reconciliation when harm is done. There are still about 12 hours of trainings left, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be growing alongside this group of people who are deeply committed to the youth in their communities.
The things that we’re learning will be shaping CultureWorks for years to come. But of course, it would be silly if Emily and I were to implement this all by ourselves; adults working alone to make a space more youth-driven is pretty ironic. The magic happens when people across various age groups partner together. We’re turning to our Student Advisory Council as we think through what comes next. Six of our SAC students have volunteered to meet with me over the summer to learn more about frameworks for Teen Advisory Councils, and I’m excited to see where they lead us and how we can support them in growing youth voice in our decision-making processes.
Of course, the young people around CultureWorks have been speaking up and taking on more leadership for years. They’ve recommended large-scale projects, spoken out for vulnerable communities through their art, fundraised for causes near to their hearts, and created space for one another to be heard. When we look back just a bit further at previous generations of students, we get to celebrate the remarkable people who have come through this place. This semester alone we’ve had two former students reach out and return to CultureWorks as volunteers. Jamie Phonhthalyhane, who now works full time as a Graphic Designer, reached out via email, writing:
“I owe a lot of my creative journey to the Cultureworks crew. My mentors and peers there helped me establish my relationship with art and eventually turn it into a career.”
The opportunities and support she received many years before Emily or I arrived was a huge motivating factor in coming back to volunteer, and we’ve loved watching how she passes her expertise along to another generation of students.
We’ve also had the privilege of welcoming Ava Kathryn to our board. Ava was an active student at CultureWorks for all of middle school and high school. She served on our Student Advisory Council, and I had the pleasure of meeting her last summer when she worked here as a college intern. Ava is passionate about using art as a means of connection and communication, bonding with one another and speaking to the world about issues like climate change. She’s also passionate about being a voice for other young people and taking leadership responsibility in our community. That’s why, after moving back to Holland, she joined our Board of Directors. These aren’t the narratives that we’re hearing about 20-somethings in the news, but rather the possibility of what they could be (and are!) in spaces where young people feel like they have a place at the table.
There are so many remarkable young people around CultureWorks, and so many wonderful adults around the state seeking to empower youth and involve them in making decisions and developing a vision for the future. I’m excited for a world where teens are more connected to other generations and get to play a leading role in shaping the world we share. Thanks for joining us on the journey; we couldn’t do this without you.
