Lessons in Adolescence Youth-Nex: Remaking Middle School

This episode features a conversation with three of the principal developers of the recently released Portrait of a Thriving Youth. Priscilla Little, Winsome Waite, and Shereen El Mallah were part of a design team formed by Youth-Nex: The University of Virginia Center for Effective Youth Development and the producer of the Lessons in Adolescence podcast, to craft a document akin to the growing number of Portraits of a Graduate being used in school systems around the country. The Portrait of a ...

This episode features a conversation with Jessica Greenawalt, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Arthur Project, a New York City-based nonprofit mentoring program focused on students in middle school. The Arthur Project taps into the professional pipeline of social workers to provide middle schoolers with professional, not volunteer, mentors. In part one of their conversation, Jessica and Jason talk about how The Arthur Project got started, why it chose to focus on middle school-ag...

This episode features a conversation with Dr. Kathryn Mills, associate professor at the University of Oregon and Director of the Developing Brain in Context Lab. Kate and her colleagues examine how social environments influence the development of social cognition during the transition into adolescence using a blend of methods, including behavioral observation and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. In part one of their conversation, Kate and Jason talk about the Developing Brain in ...

This episode features a conversation with Jason Sacks, President of Positive Coaching Alliance. For more than 25 years, PCA has worked to instill research and best practice in positive youth development into youth sports. There are more than 30 million young people participating in youth sports in the United States, although there are significant differences in access across communities, which is why a big part of PCA’s work is to advocate for greater equity in youth sports. PCA also offers t...

This episode features a conversation with Susan Rivers, Executive Director and Chief Scientist at iThrive Games. Through programs and partnerships, iThrive uses gaming and game design to promote social and emotional learning and positive youth development. In part one of their conversation, Susan and Jason talk about the founding of iThrive games, the aspects of gaming and game design that directly impact the learning and development of young people, the importance and utility of play in adol...

This episode features a conversation with Jean Eddy, CEO and President of American Student Assistance®. ASA is a national nonprofit changing the way kids learn about careers and prepare for their futures through equitable access to career readiness information and experiences. ASA helps middle and high school students to know themselves—their strengths and their interests—and understand their education and career options so that they can make informed decisions. The organization fulfills its ...