Center for Community Engagement

Research has consistently shown that participation in civic engagement can yield numerous benefits for both individuals involved and the community as a whole. This research seeks to further explore the effects of youth civic engagement in specific relation to the participants of the Los Angeles community organization Changeist. The central research question asks how does participation in youth-led civic engagement programs influence empathy, self-advocacy, and the ability to understand diverse perspectives among youth ages 11-26? To answer this question, I utilized a 25-question online survey that included a mix of both 5-point Likert scales and long-form response questions, which was answered by 21 Changeist participants. The results of the survey show that participation in Changeist has led to positive results across all three outcome variables: empathy, self-advocacy, and the ability to understand diverse perspectives. The data likewise identifies Changeist’s emphasis on including diverse identities and exposing participants to communities beyond their own as a primary facilitator of these positive effects. This research underscores the importance of civic engagement on young people’s socio-emotional and civic development.