Michael Davis
North Carolina State University
Box 7012
Raleigh, NC 27695
(919) 513-0388, (919) 513-0387 fax

The Sustainable Community Youth Leadership Project is a survey research and community forum process intended to address the needs of social community development objectives within an aspiring sustainable community: empowerment, participation, consultation, equality, social mobility and cohesion, and cultural and institutional identity. This project regards youth as both resources and emerging leaders and fosters youth-adult partnerships in dialogue about community issues. The survey involves high school youth in assessing their perceptions of four areas: community environment (natural, economic, social); community resources (healthcare, education, community organizations); community opportunities (employment, amenities, and infrastructure); and individual characteristics (career aspirations, academic plans, community needs, and demographic information).

Following the survey (Scantron), each participating high school conducts a town hall style meeting to discuss the results. Following the town hall meetings each county is presented a final report and community leaders participate in a youth-led discussion of survey results and recommended actions. Products to date have been the development and validation of the survey instrument, five administrations of survey/process, development of individualized reports, and development of process guides for replication. Outstanding reviews have been received from community partners. Action plans have been developed by youth-adult partnerships and town/county boards as an outcome.