Inequitable Invitation to Citizenship, (An): Non-College-Bound Youth and Civic Engagement

This paper focuses on what the pathways to civic participation look like for noncollege- bound youth (NCBY) -- and how they differ from the ones being traveled by youth in college or on their way there. The authors look at the widening disparity between the participation levels of these two demographic groups bodes ill for our democracy -- and our ability to wrestle with the complex and challenging issues of race, class, education, and opportunity. In examining the civic participation of NCBY, the authors provide a useful framework for examining the issue and recommendations for addressing it including service-learning.