Most significant, there is a growing chasm between young people and adults. Increasingly, youth groups have taken on the role, traditionally played by the family, of building young people's confidence, teaching values, and nurturing leadership skills. The rapid rate of social change is another salient factor in how we address young people's development. What I can do is encourage them to be flexible and help them adapt to the unpredictable future. Youth are disenfranchised and do not have a means to directly influence policy, even when it directly affects them.
Social structures tell youth that they are unable and unwilling contributors to society.
The organizations profiled in this issue represent a radical departure from this tacit acceptance of youths' place in society, and their efforts illuminate how some of the challenges unique to our times might be surmounted. Three Case Studies William Drayton founded Youth Venture on his belief that youth are capable of extraordinary contributions to their families and communities and that young people can spearhead significant social endeavors. Jacek Jakubowski and PAM have a similar agenda, or lack thereof. PAM members are invited to invent their own projects, while PAM as an institution takes a modest backseat, facilitating creativity workshops and, through its expansive network, connecting young people with one another and with other useful resources. This has resulted in a wide array of youth-driven projects, including music festivals, art shows, and environmental education endeavors.