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My work at the University of Minnesota has always
been divided between educational outreach to community-based youth
development programs and campus-based teaching in youth work, nonformal
education, and adult education. Working at this nexus of community
practice and scholarly investigation is what I enjoy and where I
can contribute best to the developmental supports and opportunities
for young people.
These interests have exciting local, national and
international dimensions. I’ve been able to do things like study
adolescent depression and suicide in Minnesota during times of farm
crisis; train
LABO youth
program adult leaders in Japan; introduce youth development training
to youth workers worldwide on U.S. Army installations; and, prepare
youth workers educationally through the master’s program in youth
development leadership in the College of Education and Human Development.
I’ve worked to create the
MN Youth Work Institute;
to strengthen the
Twin Cities
Youth Work Coalition; to foster understanding of out-of-school
time policy and programs; and, to contribute to the growing youth
development field.
The seeds of the work I do today were planted in
my early endeavors. I taught high school English for 4 years, managed
Montessori schools, directed state level employment, training and
education program initiatives, and developed research-based experiential
curriculum for use in community youth programs. Today my community
work and teaching focuses on helping youth workers and youth development
organizations be more intentional and innovative in meeting the
developmental needs of young people today. Both my teaching and
advising in the family, youth, and community program area and my
leadership role at the
Center for 4-H Youth
Development reinforce the important role bridging research and
practice plays in youth development work today.
Academic degrees
- Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., 1993
curriculum and instruction, adult education
- M.A., Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., 1966
English literature
- B.A., Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1963
political science with a teaching certificate in secondary English
Teaching and research interests
-
Youth development organizations as contexts
for learning
-
Education and training for community-based youth
workers
-
Youth policy related to out-of-school time learning
and nonformal education
-
History of youth and community work
-
Nonformal education in international contexts
Selected work
Youth development articles and chapters
Walker, J., Blyth, D., Marczak, M. & Borden,
L. (2005). Designing youth development programs: Toward a theory
of developmental intentionality. In Mahoney, J.L., Larson, R.W.,
& Eccles, J.S. (Eds.). Organized Activities as Contexts of Development:
Extracurricular Activities, After-School and Community Programs.
Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Walker, J. Beetroots not Greek roots: A history
of the 4-H movement. In Gilchrist, R., Jeffs, T., & Spence, J. (In
press). Essays in the History of Community & Youth Work.
Leicester, U.K.: Youth Work Press.
Stein, J., Wood, E., Walker, J., Kimball, L.,
Outley, C., & Baizerman, M. The youth development leadership experience:
Transformative, reflective education for youthwork practitioners.
In Magnuson, D. (Ed.). (Accepted for publication). Child & Youth
Care Forum. New York: Haworth.
Huebner, A., Walker, J., & McFarland, M. (2003).
Staff development for the youth development professional: Critical
framework for understanding the work. Youth & Society, Vol.
35:2, 183-203.
Walker, J.A. (2003). The essential youth worker:
Supports and opportunities for professional success. In Villarreul,
F., Perkins, D.F., Borden, L.M., Keith, J.G. (Eds.). Community
Youth Development: Programs, Policies and Practices. Thousand
Oaks: Sage Publications.
Research and evaluation
Madzey-Akale, J. & Walker, J.A. (1999). Training
Needs and Professional Development Interests of Twin Cities Youth
Workers. St. Paul, MN: Center for 4-H Youth Development.
Walker, J. A. (1996). “Learning to be Interpretive:
Hermeneutics and Personal Text” in Gilgun, J. & Sussman, M. (eds.).
The Methods and Methodologies of Qualitatiave Family Research.
Binghamton: Haworth Press. Also in Marriage and Family Review:
Special Issue on Methods and Methodologies of Qualitative Family
Research, Vol. 24, Nos 1-4, 1996.
Walker, J.A. (1996). “The Letters in the Attic:
Private Reflections of Women, Wives, and Mothers” in Gilgun, J.
& Sussman, M., (eds.). The Methods and Methodologies of Qualitative
Family Research. Binghamton: Haworth Press. Also in Marriage
and Family Review: Special Issue on Methods and Methodologies of
Qualitative Family Research, Vol. 24, Nos. 1-4, 1996.
Blyth, D., Walker, J., Leffert, N., Mead, J.
& Zoffer, G. (1996). Changing the System: Perspectives from the
Strengthening Our Capacity to Care Initiative Evaluation. Minneapolis:
Search Institute.
Hansen, L.S., Walker, J., & Flom, B. (1995).
Growing Smart: What’s Working for Girls in Schools. Washington
DC: American Association of University Women.
Sells, W., Resnick, M. & Walker, J. (1994).
School-Based and School-Linked Clinics in Rural America.
Washington DC: Office of Rural Health Policy.
Walker, J., Harris, L., Blum, R., Schneider,
B. & Resnick, M. (1990). Outlooks and Insights: Understanding
Rural Adolescents. St. Paul: University of Minnesota.
Curriculum development
Walker, J. (2002-3). Making the Case for Out-of-School
Time DVD and Video Materials: Eccles, McLaughlin, Pittman and Hahn.
Editing of film and print material. University of Minnesota: Center
for 4-H Youth Development.
Wood, E., Walker, J., Stein, J., & Wurster,
P. (2000). Promoting youth development: A community approach. University
of Minnesota: Center for 4-H Youth Development.
Walker, J.A., Garfinkel, B.D., Bergmann, P.E.
(1992). The Circle of Support: A Model for Adolescent Mental
Health Promotion. (6 Curriculum Manuals, 3 Educational Videos,
I Instructional Slide Set) St. Paul: University of Minnesota.
Walker, J.A. and Coble, T.L. (1989). I'll
Take Charge: A Career Development and Life Planning Curriculum
(5 Curriculum Manuals and Educational Videotapes 120 minutes total)
St. Paul: University of Minnesota.
Special awards
- Anselm Strauss Award for Qualitative Research, National
Council on Family Relations, 1999.
- Educational Technology Award for Adult Audiences,
Move Ahead: A CD-ROM Simulation on Essential Elements to Support
Youth and Create Growth Opportunities. National Association
of Extension 4-H Agents, 1999.
- Merit Award, I'll Take Charge Curriculum, Minnesota
Career Development Association, 1994.
- Dean and Director's Award, Outstanding Minnesota
Extension Service Faculty Member, 1991.
- Distinguished Service Award, National Association
of Extension 4-H Agents Association, 1991.
- Distinguished Service Honor Award, Teens in Distress
Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1990.
March 2005
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