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Youth and Community Development through Rites of Passage

This site is devoted to learning and sharing information about Youth & Community Development through Rites of Passage. It is a repository for the lessons learned by David G. Blumenkrantz since 1966 and advanced throughout the world by the Center for Youth & Community, Inc. and the ROPE community.

The Site has been called: “A University for Innovations – Promoting Positive Youth & Community Development.” These innovations are not a program per se, rather the design strategies encourage a reciprocal process between youth and community development. This is accomplished through a scheme of rites of passage that includes 20 interrelated elements in an architectural structure that serve as design principles.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND ON THE SITE

If you are here to get a quick overview go to “The Center” – What is Youth & Community Development? Then Rite of Passage Definition. That’ll give you the lay of the land.

If you want a bit more visit: The Rite Way A Unified Theory + Guiding Principles.

If you are actively engaged in developing and implementing a community-oriented rites of passage and want more information go to “Community” There are links designed specifically for Educators, Youth Development Specialists, Parents/Guardians, and Village Elders. Pick one that may fit you. Visiting all of these places will give you more in-depth information for the community organizing/development process of youth and community development through rites of passage. By all means read “The Busyness of Raising Children.”

Materials on this site are organized to open the door to possibilities for you to creatively imagine program designs for youth and community development through rites of passage in your setting. This might be in a neighborhood, cultural or civic organization, school or a community. The design elements also offer information for parents and/or guardians to design coming of age processes for their own and their neighborhood’s children.

Finally, we believe that rites of passage are so organic and fundamental to our human experience, evidence of their existence going back over 40,000 years, that everything you need to know you already know. This material can help you to remember.

Conversation and support is available by e-mailing – thecenter@rope.org.

 

 

 

 

Rites of Passage —A Unifying Story...

Coming of age within a community’s “Story” of rites of passage honors the central developmental task of adolescents – the search for one’s authentic spiritual self and deepening their connection with community, culture and nature. They are the public affirmation of an individual’s emerging adulthood. In reciprocity they strengthen the bonds between people in a community in ways that serve survival.

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A New Paradigm

Our Vision

We believe that rites of passage are universal and emerge in relationship to and informed by culture, context and the natural places in which people are born and/or live.Read More >>

Our Community

You Are Not Alone. You Are Part of the Story. Rites of passage are a unifying story for renewing and strengthening community.Read More >>

The Rite Way

All you need to know you already know, and all you need is already within your community. The RITE way connects the knowledge of the people and the community.Read More >>