ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book makes visible the practice wisdom and artistry of a diverse group of novice and expert youth workers. It shows how one becomes a youth worker, and explores how one develops the knowledge, skills, and disposition to work with young people relationally with the goal of mutual transformation. The book develops the Ecological Dilemma Resolution (EDR) model to provide the theoretical foundations of the model including youth worker knowledge and expertise, the dilemma resolution process, ecological intelligence, and reflection in- and on-practice. The application of the EDR model informs professional education by revealing the skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed to be a transformative youth worker. The dilemma stories in the book come from a multi-year classroom-based action research project aimed at understanding how youth workers resolve complex problems of practice.
