Chapter 4: Critical Reflections on Tensions in Authentic Youth–Adult Partnerships

Community-based youth organizations (CBYOs) are an essential feature of out-of-school time (OST) and have been critical spaces for youth development. Research has shown that CBYOs are philosophically and pedagogically diverse—”a complete mix: identifiable yet extraordinarily heterogeneous; vibrant yet fragile; a protected space for play and enriching experiences” (Halpern, 2000, p. 186). Community-based youth organizations engage young people in a variety of opportunities, including academic enrichment, recreation, cultural development, and sociopolitical development (Baldridge, Beck, Medina, & Reeves, 2017; Eccles & Gootman, 2002; Fusco, 2012; Hirsch, Deutsch, & Dubois, 2011). Communities of color have long-established programs and organizations to support youth and serve as a buffer against a racially hostile society and inadequate schooling (Baldridge, 2014; Ginwright & James, 2002). Further, within communities of color, CBYOs often focus on empowerment and resistance in response to the lived realities of participants; these organizations have been effective in developing youth holistically while promoting equitable academic and career preparation (Ginwright & James, 2002; Riggs, Bohnert, Guzman, & Davidson, 2010).