Understanding the Key Components of What is Needed When Building Strong YAPs
While learning about youth-adult partnerships is important, real change happens through practice. Hands-on activities give adults and youth a chance to experience partnership, not just talk about it.
Key benefits of doing these activities:
- Build Trust – Shared experiences foster connection and respect.
- Shift Power – Activities create space for youth to lead and adults to listen.
- Reinforce Learning-Adults better understand YAP principles through real time practice.
- Encourage Inclusion-Engaging formats uplift all voices, especially quieter ones.
- Promote Mutual Growth-working together invites reflection, feedback, and shared responsibility.
When youth and adults build something together, even a marshmallow tower, it gives them a model for how to build trust, systems, and change together too.
Reflection
Both the Pass Right-Pass Left and Marshmallow Tower activities uncover patterns in communication, power, and listening. Using those insights: Identify one communication habit you want to change when working with youth.