Youth Leadership Development: An Ecological Exploration

Abstract

Organizational scholars have described the structure of contemporary organizations using several different models which previously have included industrial or economic frameworks. In this article, I utilized the concepts of an organizational ecosystem and Bourdieu's forms of capital to guide a case study of the formation of a 4-H Club in an urban setting: the Barrio Santa Cruz neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona. The processes involved in the accumulation and exchange of capital between community leaders, Cooperative Extension agents, 4-H parents, and 4-H volunteers are illustrated. Recommendations for establishing and building neighborhood partnerships include promoting exchange of capital, encouraging community driven efforts, and identifying and collaborating with community volunteers.