What Happened to Youth Development? -- Youth Today Column by Jane Quinn

New York NY | Aug 26 2010

National Center for Community Schools Director Jane Quinn's latest Youth Today column.  This column was originally published in Youth Today and is reproduced with permission.
 
Whatever Happened to Youth Development?
May 1, 2010
 
When something occurs once, it’s a phenomenon; twice, it’s a pattern; three times, a definite trend. Well, three times in as many weeks, I have participated in meetings at which someone has asked “Whatever happened to youth development? You really don’t hear much about it any more.” One of the questioners observed that youth development “used to be sexy” (really?) and another noted wistfully that funders “used to throw money at it” (how did I miss that?). Despite my skepticism about some of these views, I found myself pondering the fundamental question.

Read more...