Youth-Adult Partnerships: Entering New Territory in Community Work and Research

Youth-adult partnerships are being promoted as a key strategy in community building, yet this aspect of community building has not been empirically researched. Based on data from a range of diverse communities, this study identifies the dimensions that make up the construct of youth-adult partnerships and the conditions affecting the practice of youth-adult partnerships. The value of youth-adult partnerships as a viable strategy for youth development and community building is discussed. The study concludes that changes in the lenses of both research and practice will open new directions for reaping the wisdom of youth-adult partnerships.