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Dear Forum Flash Reader,
Read about Karen's experience with seemingly prepared high school seniors and think about the true meaning of "readiness." Also this month, register for the next Ready by 21 webinar, "An Introduction to the Ready by 21 Challenge," and read about the Forum's efforts to support the youth development field with the William T. Grant Foundation.
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Karen's Youth Today Column:
Mandatory Free Choice Learning
by Karen Pittman
 This wasn't the first time I've facilitated a youth panel discussion. But it was the first time I ended a session shaken. I asked them, "As you think about where you want to be this time next year, what are some of the things you think you need to learn to be ready? Ready for college, work or life?"
My question was greeted with a long pause and blank stares. Finally, the most vocal senior said, "I guess I need to learn what they're teaching me so I can get my grades up."
It was ironic at a dropout summit that there were four seniors who had not failed in school but who may falter in college, work and life because school had failed them. At least when you drop out you know you're in trouble.
Read Karen's full column here.
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Ready by 21 Webinar: Introduction to the Ready by 21 Challenge, February 23 1:00pm-2:00pm EST
 Ready by 21 isn't a program or a campaign or even an initiative. It is a challenge to all who care about children and youth to think differently - so that they can make decisions that lead to bigger goals, bolder strategies, better partnerships. This webinar will guide participants through the essential components of Ready by 21 - the Big Picture Vision, Strategic Planning and Priority Setting, Big Picture Changemakers and Ready by 21 Introductory Guides and Materials.
Space is limited. Sign up today!
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| The Ready by 21 Update - In Your Inbox!
Ready by 21 Update is the newly launched Ready by 21 newsletter. Please watch for the inaugural edition that's headed your way later this month. The Ready by 21 Update will be a monthly newsletter that will bring you updates on cutting-edge research in the field, case studies of innovative practices on the ground and voices of leaders that are doing business differently.
Look out for it later this month.
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In the Field
W.T. Grant Workshop on Mentoring and Career Development
On January 25-26, the Forum assisted William T. Grant Foundation staff in convening and facilitating a two-day workshop for William T. Grant Scholars and their mentees. Every year, a select group of W.T. Grant Scholars receive a two-year supplemental award to mentor junior researchers of color. The goal of the award is to build Scholars' mentoring skills and develop their understanding of career development issues faced by junior colleagues of color while increasing mentees' research skills and assets.
Building the Capacity of Youth Development Researchers
On January 14-15, the Forum facilitated a meeting of approximately 30 researchers on behalf of the William T. Grant and Spencer Foundations. These scholars are working on assessing setting-level processes in classrooms and youth programs, and testing the impact of interventions designed to improve the quality of those settings. Sessions focused on developing good, cost-effective measures of teacher quality, the mediating effects of setting quality on youth outcomes and the impact of an emotional literacy intervention on classroom processes.
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Sincerely,
Karen Pittman and Laura Mattis
The Forum for Youth Investment
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