At Alexandria Beyond the Classroom (ALX Beyond), based in Alexandria, Virginia, a commitment to program quality is at the heart of their mission to support youth development. Guided by the Youth Program Quality Improvement (YPQI) approach, they foster collaboration, creativity, and a shared vision among providers, setting a new standard for collective impact.

In 2021, ALX Beyond participated in the Forum’s Build Forward Together initiative, where they connected with communities across the country to explore program quality as a critical priority for youth development. Through this experience, the ALX Beyond team gained valuable insights from other intermediaries, reinforcing program quality as a core focus of their work as they continue to grow.

Building on these insights and a grant from the City of Alexandria’s American Rescue Plan funding, ALX Beyond launched its program quality pilot in 2023, marking a pivotal step in their growth as an intermediary. From the outset, their Executive Committee emphasized the importance of piloting program quality work to ensure providers were aligned in their understanding and language about quality programming, creating a stronger foundation for collaboration and growth across the network.

This alignment, however, hasn’t come without its challenges. Erica Mack, program quality manager at ALX Beyond, describes the process of level-setting language and expectations across providers, some of whom were entirely new to this kind of assessment work. Despite these initial hurdles, Erica sees immense potential. “Program quality can feel very large at its inception. However, it really is about uplifting the good that’s being done and the creativity that can be applied to create opportunities for change.”

Erica’s approach is deeply rooted in valuing the expertise of individuals and fostering their growth. “Each person is the quality expert on their experience, and each person is worthy of belonging and space to explore their expertise in a meaningful way,” she emphasizes. This strengths-based focus has encouraged providers to approach the work with optimism and a willingness to innovate.

Erica emphasizes that the YPQI approach is about more than metrics or checkboxes—it’s about fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration. Erica reflects on how the process has built trust and a sense of community among providers. “Through this process, I’ve learned that community among adults is just as vital as it is among young people. When providers come together, share their expertise, and align their efforts, it leads to a deeper sense of belonging and a stronger network,” she explains.

Looking ahead, the impact of the YPQI approach is already visible. For Erica, the most exciting part of getting started on their quality journey has been watching adults reimagine their role in youth development. “Staff members are saying, ‘I’ve never thought about that before,’ and that is such an incredibly powerful thing in these spaces. To see that type of light bulb go off for staff members—whether they’re 27 or 67—has been unbelievable.”

For networks considering embarking on a similar journey, Erica offers simple but powerful advice: “Provide a welcoming space where people can collaborate and learn as a community, connect with other providers to share experiences and resources, and genuinely invest in adult learning. It’s important to take a genuine interest in what adults are doing, saying, and experiencing to better understand how their practices influence youth outcomes.”

As ALX Beyond continues to expand its reach, their commitment to quality programming from the start demonstrates the power of a shared vision to transform lives—both for the providers leading the charge and the young people they serve.

 

This is the third blog in our Commit to Quality series. Miss one? Catch up here.

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