Youth Driven Space Toolkit – Empowering Youth, Transforming Spaces

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Youth Driven Space (YDS) Toolkit, created in partnership between the Neutral Zone and the Michigan Afterschool Partnership (MASP). This comprehensive resource aims to provide the history, theoretical foundations, activities, ideas, and resources necessary to support and grow Youth Driven Spaces across the out-of-school time (OST) sector in Michigan. Developed as a product of the YDS Community of Practice (CoP) – a 7-month training series that brought together youth development advocates from across the state – this toolkit is designed to help you co-create spaces where youth have meaningful voice and decision-making power alongside adults.

At its core, YDS is about empowering youth to take an active role in shaping their environments, fostering a sense of belonging, and using their agency to challenge systems of oppression. Research has shown that when youth are given the opportunity to lead and contribute meaningfully, their engagement and investment in programs grow, along with critical 21st-century skills such as problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and civic engagement.

While this toolkit is primarily aimed at out-of-school time programs for older youth, its concepts can be adapted to youth of all ages. Grounded in Positive Youth Development (PYD) and the emerging field of Critical Youth Development (CYD), this toolkit also explores the impact of power, privilege, and oppression on youth development. MASP is excited to make this resource available to Youth Development Advocates across Michigan, helping to create youth-driven, transformative spaces that shape the leaders of tomorrow.