%0 Journal Article
%T Children as agents of social and community change: Enhancing youth empowerment through participation in a school
%A Ashley Baber
%A Julie Hilvers
%A Michael Maly
%A Nakisha Hobbs
%A Susan Torres-Harding
%J Education, Citizenship and Social Justice
%@ 1746-1987
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/1746197916684643
%X School-based social activism projects have much potential to foster civic engagement, self-efficacy, and positive youth development. Social activism projects may also be a means by which children, a group that is disempowered due to their age and dependence on adults, might seek to positively impact social and community problems. The current study evaluated elementary school age childrenĄ¯s (K-7th grade) participation in grassroots campaigns, which are year-long school-based activism projects that are a component of their schoolĄ¯s comprehensive social justice curriculum. Results found that even young children could successfully and meaningfully participate in these school-based activism projects. Additionally, studentsĄ¯ participation in these projects was characterized by a high level of enthusiasm and also facilitated a sense of community and empowerment in these children
%K elementary school children
%K empowerment
%K qualitative research
%K social activism
%K social justice
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1746197916684643