Empowering Young People

“With gripping stories and a rousing call to action, William Marsiglio has given us an essential guide to saving the world. Youth activism is the path to a brighter future and this book shows how to cultivate young people’s civic development for our collective betterment. Support the youngest members of society as they take their first steps and they will lead us to a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable destination. Empowering Young People is ultimately both persuasive and optimistic.”

Adam Benforado, New York Times bestselling author of Unfair and A Minor Revolution

“At a time when many young people are searching for ways to make a difference, Empowering Young People offers both inspiration and a roadmap for action. This book reminds us that youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow––they are creating change today."

Claire Chi, founder of nonprofit Dancing Against Hunger

“Worried about the future of democracy? Take inspiration from this book. With the breadth of a historical lens and the depth of interviews, Will Marsiglio conveys young activists’ intersectional understanding of justice, aspirations for a better world, and commitment, as one youth put it, to never give up on our community.”

Connie Flanagan, Vaughan Bascom Professor of Women, Family, and Community, University of Wisconsin-Madison

“We are living in a perilous time: human activities irreversibly degrade planetary ecosystems, the persistence of social inequities undermine democratic ideals, and authoritarian political movements grow in popularity. Building from a wealth of scientific research, William Marsiglio offers a comprehensive blueprint for adults interested in empowering young people to effectively fight for a better future.”

Jeffrey L. Kidder, co-author of The Channels of Student Activism: How the Left and Right are Winning (and Losing) in Campus Politics Today

“Since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Black youth have been at the heart of transformative change—organizing, leading, and building movements that outlast generations. In this compelling work, Marsiglio illuminates that enduring legacy and the young leaders who continue to shape our future. It serves as a timely and powerful reminder that youth have never merely witnessed history—they have made it.”

Jerome Richardson, owner Richardson Consulting, co-founder of nonprofit Minnesota Teen Activists

“Incorporating lessons from youth activists, Marsiglio explores how inclusive practices, ethical placemaking, and integrating past and present when addressing current issues contribute to effective social justice work. Outlining how adult allies can support the civic growth, skill building, and knowledge development of young activists, Marsiglio has delivered a book that is timely and critical for tackling the existential issues that threaten our survival.”

Barbara Ferman, Professor Emerita, Department of Political Science, Temple University Founder, University Community Collaborative

“Some young people never had the privilege of waiting to use their voices; survival drafted us into wars we did not begin. Marsiglio refuses both the adultist impulse to silence youth and the romantic impulse to make them responsible for saving what adults have broken—calling every generation to confront what it inherited and ensure that those who come after us inherit more than solely the ability to survive it.”

Cayden Brown, Executive Director, The Trespass Project

“Will Marsiglio’s Empowering Young People issues a powerful call to action for all who care about the environment, social justice, and democracy. Synthesizing a wealth of academic research with reflections from youth activists and their adult champions, Marsiglio argues for the necessity of creating social infrastructure to promote the civic-mindedness and critical agency of youth. A timely and compelling read, it offers a roadmap for empowering youth, with we-ness, time values, and placemaking serving as key guideposts.”

Jerusha O. Conner, Education Professor, Villanova University

“Empowering Young People is a powerful and timely exploration of youth activism. Professor Marsiglio uplifts young changemakers with honesty, depth, and respect while also capturing the passion and purpose that drives our generation. As the founder of the Rise N Shine Foundation, I’m grateful to see our work reflected in a book that truly understands the impact that young people can make. This book is an inspiring call to action for anyone committed to supporting youth leadership.”

Shrusti Amula, Founder Rise N Shine Foundation

“Based on captivating in-depth interviews and a broad reading of the literature, William Marsiglio shows how young people turn concern about injustice into civic action. Empowering Young People reveals how they build collective power, stake a claim in the institutions that shape their lives, and create change when adults support their work, not take it over.”

Amy J. Binder,SNF Agora Institute Professor of Sociology, Johns Hopkins University

"Empowering Young People is an inspiring account of youth activism and the conditions under which it flourishes. The book should be the first stop for anyone interested in the political development of young people—or seeking reasons to be hopeful about our political future."

Daniel Hart, University Professor, Rutgers University

"At a moment when American public life feels hopelessly divided, Marsiglio offers something genuinely new: a compelling account of how intergenerational partnerships can empower young people to lead us toward a more compassionate and sustainable future. Drawing on rich interviews with young activists themselves, the author transforms our understanding of youth civic engagement from a story about young people into a story about what all generations can build together, while providing concrete ideas and resources to help usher that vision into reality."

Melissa Deckman, CEO of PRRI and author of The Politics of Gen Z

“Empowering Young People provides a sweeping and timely overview of progressive youth activism as told by scholars and young people themselves. William Marsiglio traces contemporary youth activism across several movements as these unfold in a time of crisis. In both big ways and small ways, youth make this world a better place for all generations. But beyond describing the creativity and vision of these youth activists, Marsiglio’s book serves as a call to action: youth can work to fix our broken world, but adults must work alongside them. Empowering Young People guides the way.”

Hava Rachel Gordon, Professor of Sociology, University of Denver