Research helps keep up my motivation

May 18th
Hi All,
I am personally feel that I had stalled in the plans of getting this project of the ground -  so in reflecting on where I am at, what it is I am doing, and trying to figure out where what and how from here, I went back to my project plan.

I began to re look at the research of why young people get involved with their community. Getting young people involved with their community leads to them being involved in civic and political issues later in their life(Hart, Donnelly, Youniss, and Atkins, 2007) .

I then found further inspiration in researching young people and collective action and came across two articles that look at the importance of 'HOPE'.
These articles by Courville and Piper and Peter Drahos identify that it is the companion of hope that gives momentum to social movement. The articles discuss the connection of  hope,empowerment, ideas for change, and action.
Reading these articles has helped me become reinvigorated, just what I needed at this point.

Courville, S. and Piper, N.The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 2004. 592 (1) 39-61

Draho, P. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 2004.592 (1) 18-38

Youniss, J. and Yates, M. 1997. Community service and social responsibility in youth. Chicago. University of Chicago Press.