1. Academies for Community Schools Development Why Youth Engagement? Academy I = Setting the Vision Academy II = Comprehensive Family and Youth Resources Academy III = Academic Supports Academy IV = Shared Leadership Academy V = Youth Engagement – because the focus on the whole child is not just for the after school worker, but for all who work with children and youth Academy VI = Assessing Results Academy VII = Sustainability Academy VIII = Early Implementation

2. Why Youth Engagement? Youth Engagement is an essential component of any program of instruction or participation, whether academic or recreational, psychological, social, emotional, intellectual, or physical. It is essential for successful teaching, coaching, counseling, parenting and leadership. Today’s sessions will focus on the breadth and depth of the Youth Development Approach for Youth Engagement.

3. Whole Child Graphic The rationale for the “Whole Child” graphic is that most youth today are not assured the developmental opportunities pictured in the circles unless their parents purchase them - a result of income, geography, race, class, etc. We feel that's not good enough for America's children in a democratic society. These opportunities must be embedded in the lives of youth at every possible juncture - at home, in the neighborhood, at school, in the community. Schools must create partnerships that enable these opportunities to evolve in an inclusive and meaningful fashion - addressing youth development, youth engagement, youth voice and youth leadership. Anything less perpetuates the inequities of the pre-Brown era.