The Center for Youth Development and Policy Research (the Center) believes that base line information on supports and opportunities for young people provide a starting point for community planning around youth development. Before a community develops a plan for young people they ought find out what already exist by combining a youth and adult perspective. The Community YouthMapping process itself is a youth development opportunity for young people. Youth learn new skills, interact with the community, are given the opportunity to exhibit their capacity and challenge adults to ensure the communities young people have information on resources and opportunities. The Center offers training to the YouthMappers. Through training, young people acquire the skills necessary to use the survey tools, conduct challenging interviews, and set goals for the process. In addition, the training covers:

• world of work (protocols around professionalism)

• conflict resolution

• oral and written communication

• team building

• inter-personal relations

• history of Community YouthMapping

• small group problem solving

• survey tool review

• daily expectations and schedule

All young people that participate in the Community YouthMapping project must go through the two day training. The training exercises are interactive and stress the importance of written, verbal and non-verbal communication. For more information on Community YouthMapping please contact Raul Ratcliffe at 202-884-8295.