ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the barriers and tensions in maintaining partnerships between student researchers and instructors to support youth-led action in the public sphere. However, in the central youth united (CYU) case there were challenges and tensions in attempting to create and maintain youth adult partnerships. In youth adult partnerships to support youth-led work, adults are charged with supporting and guiding young people who design, plan, and implement an initiative. However, it is important for young people who have witnessed or experienced violence to make explicit connections between the personal and political in order to arm them with an understanding of the root causes of violence and possible root cause solutions for collaborative action aiming to reduce or ultimately eliminate street violence. The chapter examines the tension that exists in youth adult partnerships aiming to share adult's power with young people. It aims for understanding of emerging trend in practices striving for youth-driven and youth led programming supported by youth-adult partnerships.
