Abstract
As we begin this new chapter of Youth & Society, we write with deep gratitude, humility, and a strong sense of responsibility to the journal’s readership and the broader scholarly community. For decades, Youth & Society has served as a leading multidisciplinary forum for rigorous, impactful scholarship on the lives, experiences, and development of youth worldwide. It is both an honor and a privilege to step into the role of Co-Editors and to steward a journal with such a rich intellectual tradition and enduring influence.
We begin by acknowledging the extraordinary leadership of Dr. Marc Zimmerman, whose tenure as Editor helped shape Youth & Society into the vibrant and respected journal it is today. For almost two decades, Dr. Zimmerman guided the journal with integrity, care, and a deep commitment to advancing knowledge about current issues impacting youth. Under his leadership, the journal expanded its reach, strengthened its scholarly impact, and continued to push boundaries in meaningful ways. His dedication to authors, reviewers, and readers alike has left an indelible mark on the field. As he noted in his farewell, the success of Youth & Society has always been rooted in the collective efforts of a committed scholarly community, and we are profoundly grateful for the strong foundation he has built.
Transitions, however, are not only about continuity, but they are also about possibility. As we move forward, we carry with us a shared belief: that the study of youth is not simply an academic endeavor, but a social, cultural, political, and economic imperative. Young people are navigating a world marked by profound transformation, shaped by inequality, innovation, uncertainty, and resilience. Their lives demand not only our attention but also our imagination, rigor, and commitment to equitable justice.
Youth & Society has long centered the voices and experiences of youth across diverse contexts, emphasizing the social, cultural, political, economic, and structural forces that shape their development. We reaffirm that commitment, as well as we seek to broaden and deepen it.
A Renewed Mission and Vision
Our vision for Youth & Society is grounded in a simple idea: that youth are not passive subjects of research, but active agents of change. They are thinkers, creators, organizers, and visionaries who navigate and transform the spaces they inhabit. The scholarship we publish must reflect this truth. We seek to elevate scholarship that reflects this by including youth voices and research that documents not only challenges but also resilience, resistance, and innovation among youth.
Central to our vision is an explicit focus on inequity. Structural inequalities related to race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, dis/ability, geography, and legal status continue to shape the lives and opportunities of youth in profound ways. Youth & Society will continue to serve as a platform for research that critically examines these disparities while also amplifying the voices and perspectives of underserved and underrepresented youth. In doing so, we aim to challenge deficit-based narratives and promote asset-based approaches that recognize the strengths and contributions of diverse youth populations.
We also reaffirm our commitment to multidisciplinary and methodologically diverse scholarship. The study of youth and society is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing from psychology, sociology, public health, education, criminology, social work, political science, and beyond. We welcome qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and participatory research that captures the lived realities of young people and bridges the gap between theory and practice. Our goal is to ensure that Youth & Society remains a space where rigorous scholarship informs real-world solutions and contributes meaningfully to policy, practice, and community-led solutions.
In addition, we are committed to expanding the journal’s accessibility and reach. This includes exploring new ways to disseminate research through digital platforms, social media, and innovative formats such as webinars, podcasts, and summaries to ensure that knowledge extends beyond academia and reaches practitioners, policymakers, and communities. The knowledge produced within these pages should not be confined to scholarly discourse alone; it should actively inform and improve the lives of youth.
Strengthening Representation and Editorial Leadership
A central pillar of our vision is the importance of representation in shaping the future of scholarly publishing. Editorial teams and boards play a critical role in determining which perspectives are elevated, which questions are prioritized, and how knowledge is produced and disseminated. We are deeply committed to fostering an editorial structure that reflects the diversity of the communities we study and serve.
To that end, we are excited to introduce our new editorial team. Our Managing Editors, Bailee Blankemeier and Yichun Liu as well as Sue Annie Rodríguez our Editorial Executive Manager, who all bring insight, care, and commitment not only to guiding manuscripts through the editorial process but also to strengthening the journal’s broader impact and reach. They will play a key role in assessing and advancing the journal’s practices, expanding its presence through social media and digital engagement, and fostering meaningful connections with graduate students as emerging scholars in the field. Their leadership will help ensure that Youth & Society remains both rigorous and responsive, while also cultivating the next generation of contributors and audiences.
We are also proud to welcome a distinguished group of Associate Editors: Roberto L. Abreu, Theresa Rocha Beardall, Bo-Kyung Elizabeth Kim, and Sophia Rodriguez. Each brings a unique set of perspectives, methodological strengths, and substantive expertise that will enrich the journal’s intellectual breadth. Together, this team reflects our commitment to inclusivity, interdisciplinarity, and excellence in scholarship.
Through this expanded and diverse editorial structure, we aim to create a space where a broader range of voices, questions, and approaches can thrive, where emerging scholars are supported, where innovation is encouraged, and where the boundaries of the field continue to expand.
Looking Forward
The challenges facing young people today are complex and urgent- some might say wicked. From climate change and digital inequality to racial injustice, economic instability, and political disenfranchisement, youth are navigating a rapidly changing world that demands thoughtful, evidence-based responses. Youth & Society has a critical role to play in understanding these challenges, amplifying youth voices, and advancing solutions that promote well-being, equity, and justice.
As we look to the future, our goal is to cultivate a journal that is intellectually bold, socially engaged, and deeply committed to advancing knowledge that matters. We envision Youth & Society as not only a repository of high-quality research but also a catalyst for dialog, collaboration, and change. By fostering connections among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and communities, we hope to contribute to a more just and inclusive world in which young people are recognized as central actors in shaping their own futures.
We invite you, our readers, authors, reviewers, and colleagues, to join us in this endeavor. Your contributions, insights, and engagement are essential to the continued success and evolution of Youth & Society. Together, we will build upon the journal’s strong foundation while charting new directions that reflect the complexities and possibilities of youth in today’s world.