Research in key areas of life-skill building such as social emotional skills and resilience suggest that young people who focus on these developmental areas improve performance markedly in school and in their social lives. Even where low-income youth and families struggle, skills can be developed by some members to counter the deficits. Our program aims to help identify such strengths and promote them among the participants you work with. New research also credits success among disadvantaged young people who develop resilience. Previously, economic status trumped even IQ as an indicator of student achievement. Young people who failed and then learned how to rebound are shown to do better than their counterparts who may be ‘smarter’ and ‘better off’ but who have not learned the same resilience.

The Hope Collaborative digital gateway represents an online resource where partners can access a network of continually growing and developing best practices, and find all they need at one centralized online site. Partners gain access to the curriculum, training, and continual support. Diverse student populations from around the world access peer-to-peer teaching materials, created by program graduates. As students progress through the program they create their own peer-to-peer products and are trained to pass on their knowledge to other youths. It is empowering for students to see reflections of themselves in images of peer leaders and materials that feel relevant to their personal lives. Student evaluations are submitted online and contribute to the ongoing assessment, program improvements, and documentation of program data and successes. In turn when new partners sign up they benefit from the contributions of alumni and later they themselves will also be part of the organizations continued growth and development. We are creating an ecosystem for making impact happen–and for research on best approaches.