In the article A World Where Youth Hold the Power by Adeola A. Oredola with members of Youth in Action, it discusses what the program Youth in Action is all about. Their core values are explained by many different perspectives and what the bases of the program means for them. Overall the program is an environment where young people take charge and advocate for themselves and others. Adeola A. Oredola the former executive director further explained what they stand for, “In addition to creating a space for youth to thrive and create change in our community, they believe we work hard to promote a new definition of youth; we have the expectation that both youth and adults are growing together.” (p 49)

            For the article, I like how there was different perspectives, opinions, and views from the both the youths and adults of the program. By reading the many different viewpoints, it helped me as the reader understand the program much better. I believe that Youth in Action does resonate with my own experiences from high school. I’m from Pawtucket and much of the youth go through some of the same struggles. I know when I was in high school I felt as though I did not have a voice and having a program like this would have been very beneficial, and for many others in my community. “A young person who is supported to be powerful will fight to have a say when it comes to their schools or their neighborhoods. A young person who feels powerless will see their environment as something that can’t be changed and will ultimately give up hope of ever seeing a difference.” (p. 48)

            I think the perfect example of the notion of “With, Not To” is stated from a student, Giovanni Larracuente “YIA adults are open books, and they don’t want to control us. They want to work with us regardless of or maybe even because of our age.” (p. 50) He also states that no one speaks at you, but to you. The whole program follows the notion of “With, Not To” because it’s centered on making the youth have a voice and supporting them to be powerful. “At YIA you have the opportunity to define yourself, but that can go against who you’ve been told you are. We’re defining ourselves as smart, educated, and powerful.” (p. 49)