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Every community and state has dedicated leaders who have taken on the critical task of bringing diverse people and disparate efforts together in order to transform their community or state into a wonderful place to grow up.

This commentary takes readers inside the world of the Beacons, to understand their approach to supervision. In it, we ask and answer the questions: What does good supervision of youth work professionals look like? How can we strengthen supervision in ways that improve practice and reduce turnover?

Despite major advancements in the field, staffing – everything from recruitment, retention, supervision, to performance – remains a major challenge. There is a need to reexamine currently held assumptions about what it will take to build a strong, stable, committed workforce. What incentives? What opportunities? What requirements? For whom? In what combination?

This month in Forum Flash, read about Karen's experience with seemingly prepared high school seniors and think about the true meaning of "readiness," register for the next Ready by 21 webinar and read about the Forum's efforts to support the youth development field.

The High School Pupil Success Act (HSPSA), a unique public-private partnership between the State of California, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with additional support from the Walter S.

Make sure to mark your calendars for the 2009 Search Conference where you can meet the Ready by 21 National Partnership, who is proud to be a signature sponsor of the conference.

This month in Forum Flash, we are proud to announce that Karen Pittman, the Forum's Co-Founder and CEO, has been named as one of the top 50 CEOs in Power and Influence in the NonProfit Times. Also, check out the latest edition of the Out-of-School Time Policy Commentary on quality improvement systems for youth programs and it's review of the YPQI.

The Institute for Learning Innovation defines free choice learning as “learning that fulfills the lifelong human quest for knowledge, understanding and personal fulfillment.” Heady words.