ABSTRACT
First order change involves acting within an existing structure or worldview. First order change maintains and sustains the existing systems. Second order change involves acting on the existing rules and structures that uphold a worldview or system. When youth workers honor and privilege young people’s knowledge and lived experiences, youth and their stories become resources for meaningful systems change. Youth workers can and should provide young people opportunities for dignity, pride, confidence, competence, discovery, fun, and joy. For youth workers, embracing transformational change also requires an acknowledgement that often youth work occurs within systems that don’t want second order change. Emily Terrell works in a youth-led organization that challenges and seeks to transform conventional institutional structures that maintain a hard line between staff and youth. The youth make program and policy decisions, including those related to contracts and funding, and have direct access to the executive leadership of the organization.
