Cindrich, Cindy, authorKaminski, Karen, advisorLopes, Tobin, advisorTimpson, William, committee memberScott, Malcolm, committee member2017-09-142017-09-142017https://hdl.handle.net/10217/183954The purpose of the study was to describe the phenomena driving youth professional development initiatives across 10 counties in northeastern Colorado by interpreting open-ended surveys from community residents and researcher observations. The design of the study used thematic analysis framed with Social Exchange Theory (Sabatelli & Shehan, 1993; Schilke, Reimann, & Cook, 2015; Smith et al., 2014) to describe the stakeholders involved in youth professional development programing and explore how power and trust support or impede region wide initiatives. The findings from nine open-ended surveys combined with communications and researcher's observations suggest that trust is built between individuals across the region but slowly dissolves at the organizational level creating what was described by a participant as the, "we tried and failed syndrome out here" across the region. Based on the findings, a methodology of appreciative inquiry is recommended to strengthen region wide initiatives by developing trust and balancing power across the communities in northeastern Colorado.born digitaldoctoral dissertationsengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.workforce developmentprofessional developmentyouthText