Achieving Positive Outcomes for Youth: CYD and Cross Sector Collaboration

In February, nearly 40 experienced creative youth development (CYD) practitioners from Southern California gathered at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, CA to hear from a panel of cross-sector leaders. The event, hosted by the Creative Youth Development National Partnership and moderated by Cynthia Campoy Brophy (ArtworxLA), explored opportunities for collaboration between the creative youth development field and adjacent sectors (e.g., youth development, workforce development, mental health) to achieve positive outcomes for youth. Creative youth development organizations across the country—organizations that are using the arts to encourage positive risk-taking, promote leadership development, and build career pathways—have a vision that overlaps with various youth-oriented sectors.

Our key question was: How can CYD and adjacent sectors actively identify shared priorities and break down barriers to effective partnership?

This article by Brophy explores the vital themes that came out of our discussion and details their implications for community arts educators looking to collaborate with other sectors to better serve youth.