The HeartWood Approach
Our Cause: Community Youth Development
Community Youth Development (CYD)- a balancing between the potential growth of individual youth, groups and whole communities. CYD is a proactive approach to engaging and involving a diversity of young people in programs, services and processes that impact them.
This meaningful participation can occur through planning, decision making, and program delivery in governments, organizations, institutions and communities. While encouraging the gifts and talents of individual young people, community youth development places equal focus on the investment of these assets in the community itself. HeartWood’s Framework for Community Youth Development blends practices of youth development and community development in a deliberate effort to generate both individual and community outcomes.
Youth Engagement for Positive Community Change
Our Mission
We work directly with youth, adults, youth-serving organizations and broader communities and systems to increase capacity for youth engagement, community youth development and youth-led initiatives for positive community change.
Our Vision
We believe that young people possess the passion, skills and insight to be powerful community leaders and together with adults and organizations can build stronger, more vibrant communities for all.
Our Values
Our Focus Areas
Youth Engagement
Youth experience positive and engaging programs, services and supports that impact them.
Community Youth Development
Youth and Adults build capacity and understanding of how and why to engage youth.
Sharing what we know
HeartWood supports our community, partners and the sector at large with our knowledge and learnings to create a stronger field of Community Youth Development work.
Our Framework
How do you meaningfully engage youth? Experience, research and practice has confirmed that the following elements are key for positive youth engagement: Meaningful Contribution, Empowering Culture, Adventuresome Learning, Youth-Adult Partnerships, Supportive Peers.
Our Impact
*2017 online survey result
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