Speaker Bio

Ross VeLure Roholt

Associate Professor, University of Minnesota

For the last 25 years Ross has been an active community-based participatory researcher and evaluator and taught courses on youth development, youth work, and civic youth work. His research focuses on youth leadership, youth engagement, civic youth work, and youth involvement in democratic and social development, especially with young people from historically marginalized and contested communities. Ross has partnered with organizations across the globe to create opportunities that invite and amplify youth leadership.

Breakout 1D

Youth Leadership Begins with Belonging

Ross VeLure Roholt

True belonging is more than inclusion, it requires sharing power and creating opportunities for young people to help shape the institutions that impact their lives. This interactive workshop explores the intersection of belonging, trauma-informed practice, and youth agency through the four pillars of belonging (John Powell, 2024): Inclusion, Connection, Recognition, and Agency. Participants will examine how restorative practices and co-creation move beyond “fixing” youth to fostering environments where they are seen, valued, and empowered to lead. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for building youth leadership opportunities that support both emotional safety and civic engagement.

Learning Objectives: