Community Transformation

Abstract

This chapter provides a foundational overview of community development theory as fodder for connecting community change to youth social entrepreneurship. The chapter includes special attention to elements of community development such as community asset-mapping and community social capital. To round out the argument that youth social entrepreneurs effect community change, the reader will consider research on youth organizing and activism, with an eye to meaningful community engagement. Finally, the chapter attends to the tricky but imperative issue of how community members (e.g., adults) can reciprocally support youth in their social change efforts. This dynamic form of engagement is referred to here as “youth–adult partnerships.”