Youth as Architects of Belonging

Research across neuroscience, psychology, and political science confirms that for young people, belonging is essential to learning, healthy development, and a flourishing pluralistic democracy. Centering young people as architects of their own world, this session will explore how adults and youth can co-design structures that strengthen belonging. Participants will hear from the Kentucky Student Voice Team about Youth-Led Participatory Action Research, engage insights from OBI and the Perception Institute’s 2026 Youth as Architects of Belonging study, and consider frameworks from the National Equity Project for putting youth voice into practice.