Youth Participation for Educational Reform in Low-Income Communities of Color

This paper focuses on youth participation in educational reform in low-income communities of color. It draws on information from review of the limited literature and from Lifting New Voices (LNV), a national demonstration project designed to increase participation in organizational development and community change. This project provides perspectives on the ways in which young people frame the issues, the strategies and tactics they employ, and the lessons learned from empirically-based practice. As such, it advances the argument and strengthens the belief that more knowledge of youth participation as a subject of study will contribute to its quality as a field of practice. [authors]