ABSTRACT
Engaging youth in social justice work is inseparable from building democratic spaces in urban communities and as such has broad social and educational goals. New York City has a particular history with community organizing, and youth engagement in social justice in particular, that is as rich and diverse as it is controversial. The purpose of this research was to examine the processes of youth engagement within organizations that focus on social justice work with young people. By deepening the understanding of social change and by examining the theories of social change that inform social justice work with youth, people found the practice to be not only alive and well but thriving within organizations that are not identified as youth organizing programs. The diversity of organizations demonstrates that there is a possibility of promoting social justice work with youth in all types of organizations.
