Ready by 21 National Meeting 2021

Join Amanda Ruud, Weikart Center Training Delivery Specialist and RYT-200 yoga instructor, for a gentle, guided, all-level chair yoga and meditation practice that will help you start your day centered and energized. No prior experience with yoga or meditation is required, and all you will need to practice is yourself.

10:30-11:00 AM ET

Forum co-founder, Karen Pittman, has recently transitioned from her role as CEO to senior fellow. This rewiring (not retiring) allows her more time and space to focus on the big ideas that help drive the allied youth fields. Karen will share her latest thinking about what it will take for us to create equitable learning and development ecosystems that engage all learners and all adults in all settings.

Karen will then be joined by representatives from four of the communities featured in the Wallace Foundation’s recent Partnership for Social Emotional Learning Initiative Podcast Series - Dallas, Denver, Palm Beach County and Tulsa. These district and out-of-school-time leaders will share what they have learned about partnering across school and out-of-school time settings and how all adults can be engaged in supporting young people’s social and emotional learning and development.

• Plenary 2 Resources

12:30-1:30 PM ET

Healthy development and well-being are essential for youth to be ready for college, work, and life. Positive identity formation, parent and peer relations, and connection to community can serve as critical protective factors. This session provides information and resources to help create more intentionally inclusive services for LGBTQ youth, in particular those of color. Participants will gain insights for how to implement equitable services that can change trajectories and improve outcomes. Participants will learn about blueprints for action, including standards of care for LGBTQ youth, the LGBTQ Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™, and tips gained through a national inclusivity initiative at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Additional Resources:

• LGBTQ Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™
• 2014 Big Brother of the Year for Washington State

Join us to continue the conversation and deep dive into building cross-sector partnerships to advance SEL. During this session, focused on the Wallace Foundation’s Partnership for Social Emotional Learning Initiative, you’ll have opportunity to ask follow-up questions that are sparked for you during the plenary and we’ll dig in to two additional findings from The RAND Corporation’s Early Lessons from Schools and Out-of-School Time Programs Implementing Social and Emotional Learning that point toward good starting points for your SEL work – SEL rituals and routines and a focus on adult SEL skills. You’ll have time to engage in SEL practices you can take back and use right away.

What does it look like to have an active and engaging virtual program space? If you've asked this question then this session is for you. In this interactive session we will give tips and tricks on how to implement The Weikart Center's best practices in a virtual program space.

Weikart Center staff will use an activity from the new Social Emotional Learning (SEL) methods to illustrate its approach to supporting “adult SEL” in a new suite of SEL training workshops and resources. Self-awareness work in social, emotional, and cognitive development is a foundation skill if youth workers, program managers, and administrators are to effectively model, name, and support SEL competency development in youth. Psychological safety, human development knowledge, introspection, community building, personal goal setting: join the conversation about the role of these practices in professional development that translates to most effectively supporting learning and development in young people.

Launch, a coordinated network of outreach, connection, and referrals to education and employment for Opportunity Youth living in subsidized housing has demonstrated an impact on outcomes. Learn why the MA Department of Housing and Community Development decided to invest in this project, how they and their partners at the United Way used data to improve and make midcourse corrections, and how they created a theory of change for the initiative that supports critical SEL skills and competences that lead to success in the workforce. Hear how youth voice developed as the overriding culture, and how adaptations made during the pandemic became positive new ways of doing business. The journey for OY youth engaging is not linear; journey maps and staff tackling the issue of "ghosting" led to helpful program design changes. Key staff will share insights and answer questions to help inform the field.

Additional Resources:

• Launch Evaluation Report (full report and executive summary)
• Launch Field Scan

As we entered 2021, our over-burdened and under-resourced child- and youth-serving systems received unprecedented federal investment in their recovery efforts, with more potential federal funding on the horizon. So, why do we still need to put local tax dollars towards child and youth services? How are local dollars different from any other dollars? This session will address these questions and more as presenters discuss the need to continue pursuing local public investments in child- and youth-serving systems, and share examples of the unique value that local, dedicated children’s funds brought to their communities in 2020. Attendees will leave the session with an understanding of the role that local dollars play in a healthy funding ecosystem, and equipped with messages to use when advocating for local funding in 2021 and beyond.

In 2020, the Forum put out a statement mapping its pathway forward to equity. Equity and antiracism don’t magically happen just because we want them to, and while we are still early in our journey toward the ideals in our statement, we would welcome an open discussion and active learning session sharing what we have been doing and trying, and hearing from you about things you are trying and learning. Join us for a candid conversation, grounded in real-world examples, of how we’re actively working to ensure that we're meeting the moment boldly, and supporting our colleagues, partners, and movements.

This session will discuss how youth-led movements are using the power of digital media strategically to organize, advance equity, and drive social change. The facilitators will explore interactive lessons from youth-led movements and key takeaways for digital organizing and storytelling that authentically centers young people.

Additional Resource:

• Four Years We Need Social Toolkit

2:45-3:00 PM ET

Perhaps the best part of a horrible year has been the ways diverse youth and young adults stepped up to lead the change so sorely needed in our country around racial equity, pandemic response, and economic recovery. We’ll close out our time together hearing a few of these young leaders reflect on the unique styles of leadership they are creating and ways adult allies can help. We’ll ground ourselves in research on adolescent brain development, engagement, equity and belonging that shows why young leaders are positioned to lead societal change. Then, we’ll be joined by a panel of youth and young adult leaders who will share their perspectives on youth action and activism, adolescents’ determination, and their vision for our nation.

• Plenary 3 Resources

This session was not recorded due to it being mostly in breakout sessions.

Please join us at the end of this packed day of learning to network with your peers and reflect on what you heard and how you can implement these ideas in your work. The session will be mostly unstructured and offer time for breakouts and discussion.

Join us for a fun, dynamic and culture-rich mindfulness session! Together we will practice trauma-sensitive expressive movement for all ages and abilities followed by a self-regulating awareness of breath exercise that can be used on a daily basis. These mindful awareness healing-centered practices help us to cultivate embodied presence, stimulate the relaxation response, and deepen our sense of identity, belonging and interconnection. No props needed.

10:30-11:00 AM ET

This year brought change and disruptions we never could have expected. It shone a bright light on challenges in our systems and society. It also revealed great potential and possibility. We’ll begin our two days together by taking time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the potential before us. Presenters and panelists will help us consider the opportunity the current moment presents to reimagine and recreate in ways that leverage innovations and lessons learned to truly change the odds for young people.

• Plenary 1 Resources

12:30-1:30 PM ET

COVID has magnified the need to demand that all youth have equitable opportunity and access to transformative spaces of belonging and agency. We believe that belonging and agency are the next critical place for fully understanding and tapping the potential of transformative learning and development environments. In this workshop, we introduce a new set of stories and tools that amplify strategies to improve and expand spaces of belonging and agency for youth and young adults – inside youth programs and schools, within their communities, and in the larger ecosystem. The stories and tools were developed based on a series of discussions with organizations that do the work of creating belonging and agency well, and a deep dive into understanding the common elements of their practices and approach. Workshop leaders will include members of the working group that explored these common elements, sharing insights and tools in this interactive session.

Additional Resources:

• Equitable Ecosystem YouthBuild
• Oasis Doc
• Oasis Center Story
• YouthBuild Discussion Tool
• Oasis Discussion Tool

Federal COVID-19 relief so far totals about $5 trillion, with $800 billion (or 16%) directly or indirectly eligible to fund programs and services for children and youth. What funding makes up this 16%? How are states, localities, and community-based organizations leveraging the new and supplemental dollars to not only respond and recover but also to put "down payments" on long-term improvements to quality and access for kids? Learn the ins and outs of federal COVID-19 relief related to children and youth and explore the innovative options for taking advantage of the unprecedented level of new investment made available by the American Rescue Plan Act and previous legislation.

The first session of this two-part series will bring together a panel of youth development organizations who quickly pivoted their approach to assessment and data use in response to program changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. These networks will share details about their change management process, best practices and lessons learned around adapting assessments and quality standards, facilitating mini-improvement cycles, and embracing more flexible improvement plans that leverage the most timely and relevant information to guide immediate program decisions.

Additional Resources:

Don’t have a master’s degree in public policy but want to know how to launch an effective advocacy campaign? This session is for you. Learn from the people who secured $195 million of federal support for Opportunity Youth over a two-year period on how you too can conceptualize and launch an effective advocacy campaign focused on any level of government. This will be a hands on session where you will be actively led through a series of exercises and leave the room with a solid plan crafted out for your very own campaign.

Additional Resources:

• Word version of handout
• Pdf version of handout

Participants in this workshop will explore a framework that is useful for focused on harnessing Social and Emotional Learning efforts on change in practice. Workshop activities will engage participants in examining SEL efforts in the context of both the field’s commitment to Positive Youth Development and the research, resources, and supports driving adoption of SEL practices in staff practices, program management, and continuous quality improvement efforts. Identify ways to have a greater impact on SEL development of young people, wherever they work with them. 

The Readiness Projects partners are challenging communities not to “return to normal” after the great disruptions of the past year, but instead to Build Forward Together. We are working alongside community partners to collaboratively create equitable learning and development ecosystems that unleash the potential of all learners, recognize the power of all committed adults, and optimize all learning settings and approaches. In this workshop, participants will hear from community leaders innovating in their schools and out-of-school-time programs, test out applying the five strategies, and practice using new Build Forward Together tools and resources.

It’s easy to talk about equitable policies – in a government or any organization. But how do you create an intentional process to make sure equity happens in practice – all the time? Hear from Indiana’s Commission on Improving the Status of Children about their Guide for Equity Consideration and how it’s making a difference.

Giving space for Black staff and Leaders to show up as their authentic self, to foster a space of community and support while simultaneously supporting young people. This session will model the Black affinity group at the Forum for Youth Investment, which started out as a safe space for Black staff to support each other as the world happened around us, with little reprieve. Join us for self-care practices and tips for “showing up” when the world is showing out.

*This session is for staff who identify as Black and/or African American.

Citywide systems that coordinate the work of out-of-school time (OST) providers, government agencies, private funders, and others are designed to ensure that OST programs reach children who lack access to quality programming. In 2012, The Wallace Foundation asked FHI 360 to conduct an exploratory study to determine the extent to which U.S. cities with populations over 100,000 were undertaking afterschool system-building initiatives. As follow-up to the earlier study, FHI 360 recently released Stability and Change in Afterschool Systems, 2013-2020, a “sustainability study,” to ascertain the current status of afterschool system development in the same cities that were coordinating in 2012–2013. Authors of the study will share their findings and insights and engage workshop participants in a discussion of implications for their own work.

• Infographic

2:45-3:00 PM ET

On day 1 of his administration, President Biden issued an Executive Order (EO) calling for a “whole of government” effort towards greater equity. The EO charges the Office of Management and Budget (OMB, a component of the Executive Office of the President) with identifying effective methods for assessing whether agency policies and actions (e.g., programs, services, processes, and operations) equitably serve all eligible individuals and communities, particularly those that are currently and historically underserved. In follow-up, OMB is seeking input from the field on ways to assess equity, barriers to equity, and how to engage underserved or oppressed stakeholders and communities. Join us to learn about the EO and share your input! The Forum will synthesize ideas into a response to OMB.

Science findings converge on five essential guiding principles for equitable whole-child design that can be universally implemented across the learning and development ecosystem. Join us to preview a forthcoming Playbook that describes the five essentials and offers concrete strategies for how to implement them across the diversity of community-based settings where young people spend their time. Learn how your program or initiative can bring more intentionality to your work with young people by implementing science-informed practices that contribute to healthy development, learning, and thriving.

Community Based Settings Developmental Practices Reflection Tool

The strength of our nation doesn’t stem from any single office, institution, or person. It lies in the center of our local communities - both big and small. Often, artists and young people are the first community members to initiate the revitalization process through art, storytelling, youth culture, and love. These qualities - although often overlooked - are necessary to ensure the success and sustainability of evidence-based practices and programs. This presentation will examine how Youth Action Hour, an entirely BIPOC youth-led campaign, is making space for youth artists, leaders, and community changemakers to share their stories, best practices, and insights for future generations to follow. By bridging policy, data, storytelling and organizing, Youth Action Hour is on a mission to capture grassroots organizing and contribute to a narrative shift around youth and young adults, and their transformative activism across our communities. Come learn about this work and be ready to ideate on how to contribute!

When people talk about what children and youth need to succeed, connection to one or more caring adults is usually at the top of the list. But while ongoing research from Search Institute is finding that caring connections are absolutely necessary, the organization's studies are also demonstrating that caring is not sufficient if the goal is to help young people learn, grow, and thrive. During this session, Search Institute President and CEO Kent Pekel will introduce participants to four other essential actions that - along with caring - combine to create developmental relationships that help young people be and become their best selves. Dr. Pekel will also lead participants through an exercise that will help them identify a relationship-building strength they can build upon and an area for improvement and growth.

The second session of this two-part series will bring together a panel of youth development organizations who quickly pivoted their approach to staff training and coaching in response to program changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. These networks will share details about their change management process, best practices and lessons learned around identifying and responding to current staff needs, building a tiered approach to professional development, and establishing professional learning communities for coaching and peer-to-peer learning in times of rapid change.

With support from The Wallace Foundation, Learning Heroes' latest research, Finding Passion, Purpose & Voice: Out-of-School-Time as a Child-Centered Experience reveals exciting new insights about the role of out-of-school time settings in raising our young people. In this session, we’ll leverage this new research and the power of parent voice contained within to explore how it can help shape and fuel our collective work as we leverage the opportunities ahead of us as we Build Forward Together. Participants will have time to explore what the data means in their own context, considering how the data can help inform policy, practice, communication, and more related to work to strengthen equity, quality, and partnership across the learning and development ecosystem.

Many organizations recognize the importance of engaging with young people to help guide youth-focused work, but they may not know where to begin or how to ensure those interactions are meaningful. You’ll hear from two young leaders about their experiences working with philanthropic organizations — including critical success factors and common pitfalls — and from a foundation program officer about steps you can take to begin operationalizing these approaches in day-to-day work.

Can large, urban school districts successfully run high-quality summer learning programs? If so, how can they do it? And what impact can these programs have on students? These are three of the questions the Wallace Foundation, the RAND Corporation and five urban school districts explored as part of the National Summer Learning Project, an eight-year effort to provide voluntary, district-led summer programs that offer a mix of academic instruction and enrichment-and test whether they help boost students’ success in school. This session will examine this effort and provide guidance on planning an effective voluntary, academically focused, summer learning program for elementary students.

Additional Resources

• Getting to Work on Summer Learning, 2nd Ed.

What is an Anti-Racist Organization? What is Step Zero? How do we become ready to do this work? To continuously grow and change organizational culture, anti-racism must be at the forefront of the conversation. Eastern Michigan University’s Bright Futures anti-racism leaders will discuss their journey of implementing an anti-racist framework within their program and the characteristics of what readiness looks like. Attendees will have an opportunity to gain insight into how Bright Futures navigated this anti-racism space from beginning conversations to current work. Participants will also have the opportunity to take inventory of their readiness to implement an anti-racist framework in their organization.

• Session Guide

4:15-4:30 PM ET

Please join us at the end of this packed day of learning to network with your peers and reflect on what you heard and how you can implement these ideas in your work. The session will be mostly unstructured and offer time for breakouts and discussion.