Systemic Pathways for Social Transformation: School Change,Multicultural Organization Development,Multicultural Education,and LGBT Youth

This essay reviews key themes in the research on school change, multicultural organization development, and multicultural education initiatives to suggest a new perspective from which to understand efforts to meet the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth in school settings. A model is proposed, which indicates that the range of current program efforts are best understood when seen in their relationship to each other and as parts of a continuum of school change strategies. By providing a systemic overview based on multicultural organization development principles, the strengths and applicability of a range of current change efforts may offer useful suggestions of practical, developmentally appropriate next steps for educators, parents, and community advocates working to change schools to better serve LGBT youth.