The development of empowerment and leadership among youth involved in asset mapping

Research shows that youth have too few opportunities to engage in their community, develop a sense of empowerment, or develop and practice leadership skills and characteristics. This qualitative study examines existing data to better understand the development of empowerment and leadership among high school youth involved in youth asset mapping. As part of an evaluation of a community empowerment project, interviews were conducted with high school youth from three sites and with adults who were either directly or indirectly involved with the youth asset mapping projects. Interviews consisted of focus groups, telephone interviews, and in-person interviews. The findings suggest that a sense of empowerment was partially developed through participation in the youth asset mapping projects. Leadership skills and characteristics appeared to have been developed through involvement in youth asset mapping. The role of the facilitator also influenced the development of empowerment and leadership. Unanticipated themes such as cultural barriers between youth and adults, passion/motivation of youth, and adult recognition of youth emerged as components of adult-youth partnerships that are necessary to address to foster the development of empowerment and leadership among youth