Youth activism is best summarized as youth voice engaged in community organizing for social change. Around the world young people are engaged as activism planners, researchers, teachers, evaluators, decision-makers, advocates and leading actors in the environmental movement, social justice organizations, and anti-racism campaigns.
As the central beneficiaries of public schools, youth are also advocating for student-led school change through student activism and meaningful student involvement.
Scholars such as the late Paulo Freire, Henry Giroux, Howard Zinn, Alfie Kohn, and Jonathan Kozol have all called for young people to become central actors in the guidance of schools and communities. Community organizations such as Children's Defense Fund, Sierra Club (through the Sierra Student Coalition), and The Freechild Project have supported this call, providing training, resources, and other support. Advocates include the late John Holt, the late Myles Horton, author William Upski Wimsatt and activist/researcher Adam Fletcher.
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