Why Aren't We Doing This! Collaborating with Minors in Major Ways

What’s the big deal about collaborating with teens in the workplace and in organizations? Only your bottom line, reputation, millions of dollars and the satisfaction of diverse stakeholders.

Why Aren’t We Doing This! Collaborating with Minors in Major Ways explores why and how you can get to work expanding your team in the most extreme way: with permanent structures that establish long-term roles for those under age 18.

NYT bestselling author Adam Benforado of A Minor Revolution: How Prioritizing Kids Benefits Us All says: "The exclusion of youth from public and private decision-making harms all of us. To live up to our values and ensure better outcomes, we need to engage the millions of Americans under eighteen. In Why Aren’t We Doing This? Denise Webb and Wendy Schaetzel Lesko offer a rousing call-to-action for collaborating with young people and a practical guide to changing how our organizations function. Open the book and open your mind."

Before you say ‘nope’ and let stereotypes of entitled, self-centered screenagers flood your mind, we invite you to open your mind and investigate hidden biases (and we provide techniques to do just that!) And if the headwinds of resistance are strong, the title's question, Why Aren't We Doing This, is thoroughly addressed from every angle – and then refuted with numerous examples that address those same obstacles. What follows is enactable and effective: reasons why and methods how.

When you and your organization are ready to move ahead (or before), learn what works from hundreds of insights gleaned through interviews, on-the-ground research, personal experiences and more. Hear the voices of part-time teen employees, nearly-retired and everyone in between guiding you as you formulate a plan for lasting, youth infusion in your community organization, nonprofit or even mammoth government agency.

Coauthors 19-year-old Denise Webb and 73-year-old Wendy Schaetzel Lesko share their deep experiences with intergenerational interdependence along with over 80 senior executives, program managers and teens, as they describe ways to navigate this groundbreaking terrain.

In addition to an engaging narrative, this inspiring book features solid reasons, commitments and methods in an organized way so you can be effective no matter what stage of youth infusion you’re at.

• 16 major reasons to bring minors in-house
• 16 organizational commitments to tap the teen knowledge bank
• 30+ strategies to recruit a truly representative teen cohort
• 24 communication techniques that show respect for all

Nuggets of practical advice, activities and key points include:

• Tools to reveal biases and assess your organization’s innovative spirit
• Who are the “unseen” youths, where to find them and why you need to include them now – more than ever
• What not to say to teens (and to, well, just about anyone!)
• How to work with HR and compliance experts to develop safe policies to protect minors, adult staff and your organization
• Tips for teen-sensitive onboarding, energized meetings and welcoming work environments
• And an invitation to participate in our exciting Youth Infusion hub to connect with others in the U.S. and across the globe

Experts on organizational teamwork, the authors themselves are an intergenerational team. Denise Webb, age 19, has accrued five serious years of work experience ranging from community outreach to policy work, and Wendy Schaetzel Lesko, age 73, is a longtime advocate for radical inclusion of teens (https://youthinfusion.org/). They dare you to ask why AREN'T we doing this – and then provide a compelling and comprehensive resource that shows you how you CAN and why you MUST collaborate with minors in major ways!