Young people learn better when they feel safe and supported. Environments that provide meaningful learning experiences, a sense of belonging, and positive relationships enable youth to develop critical interpersonal skills, achieve academic goals, and grow personally and professionally. Whether you work in a classroom, community-based program, or larger youth-serving system, we can co-develop cohesive approaches and practices that uplift learners and the adults who support them. Our experts help you assess what you need to cultivate a healthy learning environment, then support you to implement and evaluate asset-based practices, engage families and communities, and establish supportive systems that nurture learning and growth.
Youth, Family & Community Specialties
Improve student outcomes and strengthen school communities with an evidence-based approach to family engagement.
Create supportive learning environments by building on the strengths and perspectives of youth.
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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.
In the United States today, more than four million young adults have disengaged from the K–12 education system without graduating or entering the workforce.
The following resources for planning, designing, and implementing a youth mentoring program were developed by our National Mentoring Center project.
It’s past time that adults take action to promote youth voice. Here are some ways to get started.