Warren Clarke (2015) “Youth Outreach Work: Using Solidarity to Empower Marginalized Youth”

What approaches do Toronto youth outreach workers (YOWs) use to make meaningful ties with marginalized youth, so that youth become interested in their own social development? To answer this question, I explored the practices that YOWs use to build reciprocal relationships with marginalized youth. Seventeen Toronto YOWs shared their experiences of working with marginalized youth, their perceptions of the issues faced by youth, and their specific strategies of support. By using Sherry Ortner’s practice theory, I identified that what she calls “relations of solidarity” are present in the support relationships between YOWs and marginalized youth. The tie between the YOWs and the youth is a mutual bond that includes non-judgement, reciprocity, and compassion. This study indicates that practice theory and relations of solidarity are useful because they expose the nature of the relationship between marginalized youth and YOWs, and reveal how YOWs are able to support and educate marginalized youth.

Feature image taken by Flickr under Creative Commons Licence – the original can be accessed here.

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Youth Voice Journal is an international, multidisciplinary, refereed journal that publishes theoretical contributions and empirical studies on international issues affecting young people. In particular, the Journal aims to: - provide a medium, especially for young researchers and young academics, to inform debates around social policy through high quality research; - provide a platform for the intellectual exchange of ideas around the globe with the aim of influencing policies and practices; - actively encourage and aide those young people whose voice is rarely heard by policy makers to contribute to the journal. Youth Voice Journal is published by IARS Publications and edited by Dr. Theo Gavrielides.

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