New curriculum guides communities on engaging with youth

What started out as an Iowa State University research project has turned into a free curriculum focused on actively engaging youth in the community. The Design Dialogues project, headed by Katherine Richardson Bruna, Kimberly Greder, and Jane Rongerude, commenced from research showing schools are often overlooked in neighborhood revitalization plans, but hold significant importance in community function. 

Working with ISU 4U Promise, the Design Dialogues project team has been able to identify target neighborhoods and lead workshops for local youth that focus on cultivating visions and goals for community change. First beginning as a means to identify both barriers and enablers to the academic success of Black and Latinx youth, this project has now generated a free curriculum for community organizations to engage youth in efforts of community revitalization.

The Design Dialogues project was funded by the College of Health and Human Sciences collaborative intramural seed grant program, Community and Regional Planning department, ISU 4U Promise, ISU Extension and Outreach, Community and Economic Development program, and the Neighborhood Project.

The curriculum is free for use through ISU Extension and Outreach. Read the complete ISU News Service story.