​Project Goal

​The core goal of the Youth Impact Model is to address the root causes of conflict in a community by fostering sustainable collaboration, shared understanding, and collective impact among diverse young people.

 

We aim to to move beyond single-issue, responsive approaches while advocating for and creating community change by emphasizing shared leadership and meaningful solutions identified by the youth themselves under the direction of our programming. 

----------

​Project Components

​The model is built around a two-phase process led entirely by a cohort of Youth Leaders drawn from diverse community backgrounds, including varied socioeconomic, cultural, and geographic groups.

​

​Phase 1: Joint Conflict Analysis

​Youth Leaders collaboratively conduct a community-wide analysis of the conflicts and underlying systemic issues affecting their area. This action is crucial for establishing a shared, data-driven understanding of the issues, which moves past individual-group perspectives to identify intersecting systemic root causes that often fuel local tensions.

​

​Phase 2: Joint Problem-Solving and Action

​Following the analysis, the leaders work together to design and implement collaborative solutions. This joint problem-solving phase ensures that the projects are directly aimed at the identified root causes and demonstrate the power of collective impact in creating sustainable change.

​

​Examples of Collaborative Actions

​The collaborative solutions funded through this model may take many forms, with an emphasis on building bridges and fostering dialogue:

​

• ​Community Forums: Youth Leaders organize and moderate forums to encourage open dialogue and shared understanding across different community groups.

• ​Art Projects: Creative mediums are used to express personal stories and foster empathy, such as designing joint community murals or producing collaborative theatre pieces. 

• ​Skill-Building Workshops: The leaders create and lead peer-to-peer workshops focused on essential skills like non-violent communication and practical conflict resolution.

• ​Shared Initiatives: Projects involve youth working together toward a common goal, such as developing a community garden, leading a neighborhood cleanup effort, or organizing a local advocacy campaign for peace and justice 

----------​​

​For more information on the Youth Impact Model, please CONTACT the foundation.​