About Resource
The Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS), a project of the Afterschool Alliance, is a network of youth programs, researchers, and leaders working to expand opportunities for all young people to engage with issues they care about and improve their communities.
This report makes the case for youth civic engagement in afterschool programs, highlighting the role that out-of-school time (OST) programs play in fostering community involvement, developing youth civic skills, and addressing the civic engagement gap among young people.
How to Use
This toolkit provides research, resources, and case studies related to four main claims:
- There is a civic opportunity gap for young people
- Youth civic engagement has unique benefits for both youth and their broader communities
- Afterschool and other OST programs can bridge the civic opportunity gap
- STEM + civic engagement is a powerful combination
The toolkit concludes the following calls to action--paired with specific recommendations for program leaders, funders, and researchers.
- Empower authentic youth voice and leadership
- Focus intentionally on developing youth civic identity
- Break down silos and promote cross-sector collaborations
- Support research on youth civic engagement
- Leverage networks, partnerships, and coordinating entities
Author(s)/Organization: Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS), Afterschool Alliance, Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts
Publication Year: 2025
Tags
Attributes:Aims for Action, Equity-Focused, Shares Leadership
Outcomes:Capacity for Civic Engagement, Ethical Decision-Making
Approaches:Civic Engagement & Policymaking
Type:Reports & Articles