Youth-focused environmental programs develop environmental stewardship and related interest in future career pursuits. However, research is limited on how youth perceive the varied skills and capacities needed in environmental careers, which could impact their ability to contribute to environmental work. We describe findings from a…

The purpose of this study was to analyze the narratives constructed by urban youth in a summer program for future educators of color. In particular, we asked, "In what ways do students use texts to create counternarratives of urban education?" Utilizing visual counternarratives and counterstorytelling as theoretical frames, and through…

"Al Éxito" supports the leadership development, post-secondary education, and civic engagement of Iowa Latina/o youth. In the summer of 2015, it piloted "Movimiento Al Éxito," a "pop up" summer program. In this article, we detail the innovative components and curriculum and describe our journey with "new…

Many teens today feel as though they have limited opportunities to prove to society that they can make positive and meaningful contributions to their communities. They are presented with few opportunities to make important choices and decisions regarding their lives and communities and often have no mechanisms in their everyday lives to help them…

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of parental and programmatic support among 20 urban youth. Existing literature indicates that educators often place blame on parents for their perceived lack of involvement in their children's schooling. However, the participants identified their family members (e.g., parents, siblings) as providing…

This study investigates the post-high school influence of the In-School Neighborhood Youth Corps (NYC) on the earning capacity of participatns in Houston, Texas. The influence of NYC participation is investigated employing a methodology of a control group design together with data analyses using multiple regression and analysis of covariance. The…

OPERATIONAL FEATURES OF SUCCESSFUL 1965 UPWARD BOUND PROGRAMS ARE BRIEFLY SUMMARIZED. THE GOAL OF THE UPWARD BOUND PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE UNIVERSITY-BASED AND ARE CONDUCTED DURING THE SUMMER AND THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR, IS TO PREPARE NORMALLY INTELLIGENT DISADVANTAGED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR ADMISSION TO AND SUCCESS IN COLLEGE. THE PROGRAMS…

Project PIT (Program of Industrial Training) was a pilot and demonstration program of industrial training for Detroit's innercity youth. Its major aims were to provide youth with occupational information and guidance, to help youth see the need for a good education, to provide these youth with financial means to return to school, and to make…

The 10-day 1980 National Leadership Conference sponsored and administered by the American Youth Foundation, was held at Camp Miniwanca (Michigan) for 123 youth participants representing four cities (Indianapolis, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis). The theme was leadership (the leader as servant and guide who helps a group to achieve their ends,…

This Final Report summarizes five years of development of cooperative summer and school-year programs between the Neighborhood Youth Corps (NYC) and community colleges. NYC Goes to Community College is a combined work and study program for economically disadvantaged youth, cooperatively conducted by local sponsors of Neighborhood Youth Corps and…

The Quantum Opportunities Program (QOP) is an innovative 4-year year-round pilot program that provides learning opportunities, development opportunities, service opportunities, and summer jobs to small groups of youth from families receiving public assistance. In 1994, the Ford Foundation commissioned an evaluation of the QOP. Between 1989 and…

The 10-day 1981 National Leadership Conference (NLC) sponsored by the American Youth Foundation was held at Camp Miniwanca (Michigan) for 182 urban high school students selected for leadership ability or potential and other specific criteria established by each student's home city. Students participated in seminars, skills explorations,…

This article describes and assesses the effectiveness of a 3-yr, laboratory-based summer science program to improve the academic performance of inner-city high school students. The program was designed to gradually introduce such students to increasingly more rigorous laboratory experiences in an attempt to interest them in and model what…

This report describes the role of a mentor of young people and a summer program providing mentors for high school students. For two summers, with the help of the Commonwealth Fund, several hundred young New Yorkers were chosen from among high school juniors with little hope of finding a summer job to enroll in a program sponsored by Hunter College…

Describes the urban-centered WalkAbout summer program, which involves hands-on service learning emphasizing the importance of students being authentically invested in their own learning. Program goals include increasing academic achievement, providing opportunities for community-based learning, developing a service ethic in youth, and improving…