Young people learn better when they feel safe and supported. Equitable learning environments that provide meaningful learning experiences, a sense of belonging, and positive relationships—help every learner develop critical interpersonal skills, achieve academic goals, and grow personally and professionally. We will help you assess what you need to cultivate a healthy learning environment and support you in implementing and evaluating asset-based practices, family and community engagement efforts, and establishing supportive systems that nurture learning and growth. From classroom instruction to community-based programs to system-wide initiatives, we will work with you to co-develop cohesive solutions that uplift learners and the adults who support them.
Specialties
Improve student outcomes and strengthen school communities with an evidence-based approach to family engagement.
Principal Consultant for Family Engagement & School-Community Partnership
Managing Researcher, Equitable Learning Environments
Managing Researcher, Equitable Learning Environments
Senior Researcher, Applied Research & Equitable Evaluation
Leader, Applied Research & Equitable Evaluation
Leader, Equity, School Climate, & SEL
Researcher, Applied Research & Equitable Evaluation
Senior Researcher
Researcher, Applied Research & Equitable Evaluation
The Equity Model for Youth Mentoring—developed by Dr. Kristian Jones, EDNW’s Dr. Grace Gowdy, and Dr. Aisha Griffith—is guided by consideration of social justice and structural oppression.
Researcher Grace Gowdy explores how informal mentoring relationships offer important lessons about promoting equity and youth voice.
The following resources for planning, designing, and implementing a youth mentoring program were developed by our National Mentoring Center project.
Youth program partnerships can help districts and schools accomplish more than what they can do alone. How can you build your capacity to manage them?
An effective and evidence-based way to improve schools, nonprofits, and government agencies is to make decisions in partnership with those being served. This six-page resource provides an overview and tips for educators and youth workers.
For nonprofits and community-based organizations serving youth, we provide professional development and a wide range of capacity-building support through the Institute for Youth Success. Services include training and technical assistance, research, and consultation for mentoring, tutoring, and out-of-school time programs.