Youth work is a sacred opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of children and youth. In a new publication from Information Age Publishing (IAP), curated and edited by the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST), personal narratives written by youth workers shine a light on the intricate connections between research and practice, touching upon both the vulnerability and triumph of youth development work.
In this podcast series, youth workers read excerpts from their essays, and share how youth workers’ lived experiences inspire the ability to build the relationships that are the foundation of positive and healthy youth development. From relationships comes engagement, and from engagement, transformation—centered in equity, inclusion, and belonging. No one is better able to advocate for these truths than the professionals who found themselves—by whatever means—working with young people to bring positive change to their lives, their communities, and our world.
The Heartbeat of the Youth Development Field: Professional Journeys of Growth, Connection, and Transformation is now available. Order copies for your organization today!
Publisher
Wellesley Centers for Women, NIOST (National Institute on Out-of-School Time), Georgia Hall
In the fourth episode of the series, Georgia talks to Terrance Cauley, senior director in the Department of Youth, Family, and Clinical Services at Better Family Life Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri. Terrance highlights the importance of offering historically marginalized Black youth opportunities for self-definition, and discusses how he does this through his work in out-of-school time programming.
27 Feb 2023
"Sanctuary" by Brittany Jacobs and "Afterschool as Mission" by Edward Franklin
In this third episode of the podcast, Georgia hosts Brittany Jacobs, Library Director at the Burlington Public Library in Iowa, and Edward Franklin, President and CEO of Voice of Hope Ministries in Texas. Brittany and Edward talk about the essays they contributed to the book, which explore the relationship building that allows OST programs to go beyond short-term benefits to sustained and transformative influence for individuals and communities.
25 Jan 2023
"A Mirror for Black Boys" by Amy Franks and "Creating Windows Through Words" by Devan Blackwell
In this episode of the Journeys in Youth Development podcast, Georgia Hall, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST), talks with Amy Franks and Devan Blackwell about their essays in the book, The Heartbeat of the Youth Development Field: Professional Journeys of Growth, Connection, and Transformation. Both of their essays explore the ways in which youth development experiences can transform lives, and how youth development professionals can promote engagement in activities that foster motivation and self-reflection.
29 Nov 2022
"Sweet Spot" by Marisela Montoya and "Investing in Communities of Color" by Kourtney Andrada
In the first episode of the podcast series Journeys in Youth Development, host Georgia Hall, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST), talks to Marisela Montoya, chief program officer at Foundation Communities in Austin, TX, and Kourtney Andrada, senior director of school-based programs at Girls Inc. of Alameda County in Oakland, CA. Marisela reads several excerpts from her essay “Sweet Spot,” about how she happened to wander into an afterschool program and found her calling. She talks about an inspiring interaction with a supervisor who pushed her to constantly look for new opportunities to learn and to share that learning with others. Kourtney reads from her essay “Investing in Communities of Color,” about her early experiences working with youth as both a track coach and as an advisor to teens in a migrant farmer community who would be first-generation college students. She talks about a fellowship experience that shifted her mindset from working within existing systems to changing those systems.
Marisela and Courtney’s essays appear in the book The Heartbeat of the Youth Development Field: Professional Journeys of Growth, Connection, and Transformation. Through both research and personal essays, the book shines a light on the intricate connections between research and practice, touching upon both the vulnerability and triumph of youth development work. The passionate voices of youth workers in this volume lead to the inescapable conclusion that programs and policies for youth must be informed by these same voices and the values they express.
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