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Evaluation of Expanding Youth Driven Spaces Across Southeast Michigan

Youth Driven Spaces (YDS) refers to a positive youth development environment where youths partner with adults to meaningfully engage in decision-making throughout the organization’s governance and programming activities. Led by the Neutral Zone, youth-serving agencies participating in this initiative receive intensive coaching and training supports to promote youth leadership, social and emotional learning, and effective school and community change. 

YDS involves three core practices:

  • Tapping teens’ intrinsic motivation
  • Supporting teens’ developmental needs
  • Fostering genuine partnerships between adults and youth
Learn more about the Evaluation of Youth Driven Spaces Across Southeast Michigan.

Partners:

  • Neutral Zone teen center, Ann Arbor

Funders: 

  • Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation

People:

Jamie Heng-Chieh Wu

Associate Director for Community Evaluation Programs, Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies

Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship