For a century, democratic values have called for abandoning coercive approaches and teaching children and youth to be responsible citizens. The authors explore strategies for creating respectful environments and positive group cultures with challenging youth. They offer suggestions to adult group facilitators to support youth in developing autonomy and understanding themselves as part of a community. The essential building blocks of democratic group work support youth in meeting their developmental needs for belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity as a pathway to responsibility. (Contains 1 footnote.)