Shared youth-adult decisions achieve success. For the past four years, I have facilitated a youth-led planning process for an in-depth youth program at an otherwise adult-focused conference. Engagement and ratings from youth participants are consistently high, and the conference routinely has to close youth registration early because it has become so popular.

Youth in effective youth-adult partnerships join productive dialogue to create change rather than use protests and disruption to be heard. A group of students raised an important concern through existing youth voice channels at their school for months. Feeling like the administration pretended to listen only to disregard their concerns, the students felt the need to disrupt the school day with protests. Following my engagement, subsequent honest dialogue that engaged students as equal partners reduced tensions and allowed the school to move forward even though the policy itself did not change.

Policy changes developed with youth-adult partnerships avoid creating unintended consequences. Formerly-incarcerated youth leaders raised concerns about part of a proposed legislative change that would have made it more difficult for families to remain connected with loved youth inside facilities. Adult and youth advocates were able to adjust the proposed legislation to avoid the unintended consequences.

Youth leaders can grow into new, mission-driven employees and future leaders in the field. Organizations that seek to hire individuals impacted by particular policies, laws or systems can build future employees and leaders through youth-adult partnership. Youth retain a realistic trust in the system and belief in their ability to create change.