Youth Today
From the Field
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2.9KI lived in a coat closet to stay in college
Although new federal and state student homelessness support policies are needed, colleges must do more now.
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1.3KRebuilding attention, one page at a time
As attention spans decline, we must create more engaging opportunities for children to work with physical reading and writing materials.
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1.6KHow visual arts workshops can help youth achieve mental health goals
Growing up, I struggled with anxiety and OCD. When I started one-on-one therapy at age 10, I quickly discovered that using visual...
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2.5KQ&A with Maxwell Shei, 17-year-old co-founder of Open Keys, on bringing real performance opportunities to musicians “in the middle.”
Open Keys believes everyone deserves a stage and the opportunity to experience the transformative power of performance.
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1.9KWhy America must invest in apprenticeships — now
Strengthening and expanding apprenticeships may provide a crucial solution in the middle of the worst labor market for young adults since the...
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2.0KFostering the future: Ensuring foster youth aren’t left out of the AI economy
The AI economy presents new challenges for foster youth transitioning to adulthood. We must use the moment to level the playing field.
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1.8KSupporting our direct care workforce isn’t optional
For trauma-impacted youth to thrive, they need a direct care workforce who can regulate their own emotions.
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1.7KThe missing dimension of positive youth development: What it requires of adults
The positive youth development field has rethought the role of young people in the work, but not the adults.
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2.0KThe power of voice
Debate’s transferable skills — including public speaking, critical thinking and intellectual humility — empower youth voice.
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1.8KHow a scholarship for homeless youth gave me the stability to build a future
The scholarship didn’t just help me go to college. It helped me build a life.
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1.9KWorkforce readiness should start before college
Workforce readiness must start in high school with paid opportunities, responsibilities, and cross-sector partnerships.
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2.3KStrengthening school/afterschool partnership: Tips and trends from the 2026 School Superintendents Conference
At the 2026 National Conference on Education hosted in Nashville by the School Superintendents Association, I heard a sentence that defined my...
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1.5KOn sparks and social capital
Katherine Plog Martinez speaks with Erica Van Steenis on how sparks — deep interests, qualities, or talents — are central to positive...
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2.1KDance builds the skills young people need. I credit dance with my pursuit of medicine.
If we want young people to relish the joy of learning and grow into capable, compassionate adults, youth dance deserves its place...
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1.5KBeyond fragmentation: Advancing continuity of care and cumulative opportunities in OST
OST can move from a patchwork of programs to a cohesive ecosystem boosting equity and learning; becoming a vital part of the...
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2.8KCivic skills for 20 million young people: A Q&A with Rajiv Vinnakota
Karen Pittman speaks with Rajiv Vinnakota about cultivating civic skills that develop effective citizens.
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1.5KWhat 20 years with court-involved youth has taught me about breaking systemic cycles
Even with juvenile justice reform, the underlying conditions that result in court-involved youth remain firmly in place.
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2.7KFlourishing in the Age of AI: Q&A with Courtney Garcia of LearnerStudio
Merita Irby speaks with LearnerStudio's Courtney Garcia about a new anthology exploring what it means for young people to flourish in the...
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2.0KTo fix student absenteeism, schools must support families first
With chronic absenteeism still 50% above pre-pandemic levels, schools are using ineffective punitive or reward-based strategies instead of family supports.
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1.3KOn developmental relationships
Katherine Plog Martinez speaks with Gene Roehlkepartain on how strong developmental relationships are the "active ingredient" in successful youth programs.
