iMapAmerica is building tools to empower youth and their communities.
Mission: “To guarantee every young person access to safe and accurate information about resources, and opportunities to make better decisions.”
Process: Knowledge generation and knowledge transfer by and for youth. “…currently youth are more often the subjects of research. iMapAmerica’s products allow young people to be their own demographers with Youth moving from being under the microscope to behind it.”
iMapAmerica puts tools in the hands of young people that allow them to actively engage in knowledge transfer by mapping organizations and resources in their communities that are relevant to their needs and interests. The result is not only better information, but also a renewed sense of engagement and accountability that is shared by those who map, and those who “are mapped.” Mapping therefore achieves two fundamental purposes:
1. It empowers young people by giving them tools to responsibly assess and speak out about what their communities have to offer.
2. It gives communities both a means and an incentive to ensure that their products and services are understood and valued by young adults, who represent a powerful and growing force in shaping our world.
The leaders of iMapAmerica have identified “mapping” as a tool that speaks powerfully to both trends. By teaching young people to map the services in their communities, iMapAmerica flips the conventional model of “we’re doing this for youth” to “youth are doing this for themselves.” Mapping is Primal civic engagement resulting in young adults impacting their own future, the future of their communities, and the world beyond.
Click here to learn more about iMapAmerica’s Process and Products
