positive youth development Archives

Social capital From participants to partners Rethinking the role of alumni in youth programs_feature: group of youth learning woodworking from young instructor

33

Opinion

From participants to partners: Rethinking the role of alumni in youth programs

Youth program alumni are vital social capital not usually harnessed by youth organizations.

Childcare: several young children stand in a line with arms around each others shoulders

737

Opinion

Entering the life space of the child: Frank Fecser’s legacy in action

Re-Education is a systematic, relational, ecological approach to working with children with mental/behavioral challenges.

positive youth development, sparks, environmental education grants: black boy using magnifying glass to study among plants while Asian girl takes notes

928

From the Field

On sparks and social capital

Katherine Plog Martinez speaks with Erica Van Steenis on how sparks — deep interests, qualities, or talents — are central to positive...

AI in schools: person on laptop while also using AI chatbot on smartphone

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From the Field

Flourishing 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...

On developmental relationships _feature: black coach or mentor and white male student sit on bleachers and talk

922

From the Field

On developmental relationships

Katherine Plog Martinez speaks with Gene Roehlkepartain on how strong developmental relationships are the "active ingredient" in successful youth programs.

QA_ Karen Pittman _2026 NEA Foundation’s Outstanding Service Public Education Award_older black woman stand at podium with hands clasped in front of her

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From the Field

Q&A with Karen Pittman, 2026 recipient of the NEA Foundation’s Outstanding Service to Public Education Award

Youth Today's Karen Pittman, often referred to as the godmother of positive youth development, received the award on February 13.

Coaching not correction_The shift youth serving systems need to build real leaders_feature: male educator/mentor helping two girls with STEM project

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From the Field

Coaching, not correction: The shift youth-serving systems need to build real leaders

You can’t correct a kid into leadership. Adolescents develop youth leadership through environments that support autonomy, belonging and skill-building.

service learning, youth workers: Happy young volunteers in gloves collecting, sorting food for needy people

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Opinion

They age out — then we hire them. What happens next matters most.

Despite the vital role of young staff, we know little about how these experiences shape their development and which workplace practices help...

On learning and meaning making _feature: group of youth working at table together

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From the Field

On learning and meaning making

Katherine Plog-Martinez speaks with Kim Sabo Flores about how meaning making—reflecting on and making sense of experiences—is crucial to youth development.

On readiness to change, youth development_feature: three youths at youth organization even happily discussing something

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Opinion

On readiness to change

Katherine Plog Martinez speaks with Arielle Lentz about the importance of youth organizations' readiness to implement science-based youth development.

positive youth development grants; young african american woman leading class

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Opinion

On Integrating Research and Practice: A new resource bridges the gap

The ultimate goal of this book is to bring the voices of leading positive youth development scholars directly to youth development practitioners.

A capstone essay on 50 years of promoting positive youth development _feature: young boy and mentor/father figure walk outdoors while talking

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Opinion

A capstone essay on 50 years of promoting positive youth development

Positive youth development researchers/practitioners must remain steadfast in providing every young person with developmental assets and relationships.