Thriving.Equity.Learning: How science gives our advocacy a boost. This grounding paper makes the case for positioning thriving, across life domains, as the ultimate goal for youth which can only be achieved if we use a robust definition of equity (beyond educational equity) and acknowledge not only the impact inequities have on social, emotional and cognitive development but also the important role human learning plays in developing agency, resiliency and identity.  Read the paper here. 

OST Issue Briefs. The series of 5 briefs will share practices that exemplify the science in the OST field and illustrate how we can better align our practices to the research. To develop the briefs, AIR will interview leaders from select initiatives (e.g., 4-H, Playworks, Student Conservation Association) to learn how they incorporate the science into their organization or program.

Thriving Youth Fields Glossary /Taxonomy.  Create and vet a new glossary and discussion guide for use across the thriving youth fields that facilitates more accurate and nuanced descriptions of the range of adults (what roles), experiences (purpose, type and approach activities) and settings (both places and characteristics).

Where Learning Happens Videos.  The Learning Policy Institute received funding to contract with Edutopia to create an additional series of How Learning Happens Videos that feature out-of-school time settings.  The Forum worked with the Edutopia team to define themes, identify sites, review footage and record overview footage for the series.  The Forum will work with NYSOs to identify videos from OST/youth development organizations that can showcase the advantages of broadening definitions of how, where, when and with whom learning happens.