Youth Planning Charrettes: A Manual for Planners, Teachers, and Youth Advocates
By Bruce Race, AICP, AIA, and Carolyn Torma
American Planning Association, 1998

Youth Planning Charrettes is a how-to workbook developed for the successful Kids Planning Charrette at the 1997 APA National Planning Conference in San Diego.

According to the book's foreword, Youth Planning Charrettes

"was written as a resource for planners and educators working with young citizens. It provides advice on how to design a process that is informed and interactive, where youth own the results and are empowered to act as advocates for their issues. The book focuses on the role of workshops and charrettes in the planning and educational process. The charrette is one of the most powerful tools for allowing young people to come to a collective understanding of their issues, and the options and actions available to them."

Chapters cover specific case studies in youth community planning, preparing for a charrette, facilitating a charrette, recording and using the results, lessons learned, and designing your own kids' charrette. Photos accompany almost every page.

Youth Planning Charrettes is an essential guidebook for planners, teachers, or youth advocates interested in instilling a sense of civic involvement and participation in young people. In clear terms, it brings the innovative planning concept of the charrette into a form that works for youth. After reading Youth Planning Charrettes you'll be ready to involve youth in their communities in a meaningful way.

* Visit APA's online bookstore for more information.