Skip to content

YouthSolve

We love to talk. Contact us today.​

YouthSolve

solYOUTHtions is a hybrid action oriented structure where youth take the lead on learning and gain essential work skills that can be applied to community-based and entrepreneurial solutions while earning academic credit.

  • Middle School Youth – Capstone projects take the place of desk-confined experiential learning.
  • High School Youth – Project portfolios earn college credit through EduSolve’s partnership with higher education institutions.

Why solYOUTHtions?

solYOUTHtions honors the belief that children and youth can bring a new level of thinking to the most challenging problems in our world today. They can also infuse the power and energy needed to put that thinking into civic action (Jagers, et al., 2021).

solYOUTHtions works because the adults don’t lead–the participants are the leaders. Positive youth development after school programs infuse the principles of Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) with Design Thinking protocols to structure youth leaders in their innovation. 

YPAR is an innovative approach to positive youth and community development in which young people are trained to conduct systematic research to improve their lives, their communities, and the institutions intended to serve them. Once trained, they pursue their own solutions, with access to mentoring adults who will remove any roadblocks or barriers.

Design Thinking is an organized process to understand the creative process from the end-user perspective. It unleashes creative power and aligns it to real world solutions that are tested and ultimately scaled. YouthSolve taps the natural curiosity and creativity of youth to solve problems through and with those closest to the issues.

Welcome to our enriching array of services dedicated to fostering Positive Youth Development through innovative afterschool programs. At Edu Solve, we understand the significance of providing young minds with opportunities that extend beyond the traditional classroom setting. Our Positive youth development after school programs are designed to empower students with essential life skills, instill a sense of purpose, and cultivate a positive outlook on their future.

In our afterschool programs, Positive Youth Development takes center stage, offering a holistic approach to education. We believe that every interaction, every activity, and every moment is an opportunity for growth. Our experienced team is committed to creating a nurturing environment that encourages exploration, creativity, and the development of crucial social and emotional skills.

Through our tailored Positive Youth Development initiatives, students engage in activities that build resilience, self-esteem, and a strong sense of community. Whether it’s through team-building exercises, leadership workshops, or creative arts programs, we repeat the mantra of Positive Youth Development to ensure a consistent focus on the well-rounded growth of every participant.

Join us in shaping a future where every young mind is equipped with the tools for success. Explore our Positive Youth Development afterschool programs at Edu Solve and witness the transformative impact on the lives of the students we serve. Together, let’s build a foundation for a positive and thriving generation.

YouthSolve Approach

We propose a 10 month engagement process with the goal of youth leading culture and climate initiatives in the strategic plan.

Facilitated by Mike May, EduSolve’s Youth Engagement Leader, the team will come together and lead through a facilitated infrastructure premised on two-way communication where students are gathering feedback and acting as a conduit for students and leadership.Over a typical 10 month engagement, youth leaders will:

We propose a 10 month engagement process with the goal of youth leading culture and climate initiatives in the strategic plan.

Facilitated by Mike May, EduSolve’s Youth Engagement Leader, the team will come together and lead through a facilitated infrastructure premised on two-way communication where students are gathering feedback and acting as a conduit for students and leadership.Over a typical 10 month engagement, youth leaders will:

Participate in an orientation and agree to a youth-led governance structure.
Learn about the audience for the issue they want to address by asking: Who is my end-user? What matters to this person?
Create a point of view based on the end-user’s needs and insights.
Brainstorm and create as many solutions as possible.
Build a representation of ideas as a prototype.
Share prototyped ideas and gain feedback based on simulations to learn these key concepts: What worked, what didn’t?
Present a showcase of projects and work with constituents to bring to scale.

Each meeting is structured in a predictable format to create safety, thereby unleashing youth creativity:
1 Hour Meets (standardized approach)
Warm Welcome
Objectives for the Meet
Facilitation Experience
Optimistic Close and Next Steps

Current YouthSolve Host Sites
Broward County Public Schools
Ascend Charter High School
School District of Palm Beach County

What our clients are saying

We didn’t know where to begin with our performance management redesign. The power of change and the tools to reinforce the culture are invaluable.
Seattle Public Schools
The four-part framework on clarifying, ideating, developing, and implementing informs the way we work now.
Charter Schools USA
Our experimentation, guided by EduSolve, has paid off in the growth of culture, systems, and instruction in our schools.
Fort Worth ISD

Schedule a call.

Take the first step, contact us for a no-cost consultation session:

Schedule a call

Take the first step, contact us for a no-cost consultation session: