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.
create equitable learning environments by building on the strengths and perspectives of youth.
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.
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.
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.