Introducing

The QYD Project™

The Quality Youth Development (QYD) Project™ is a national youth engagement and empowerment project, in alignment with the 40 Developmental Assets developed years ago by the Search Institute. It seeks to engage communities in better supporting their youth by working alongside them.

How it Works:

Organize a local QYD

Steering Committee within your community, with at least 40% of members between the ages of 13-19.

Complete evidence-based QYD Benchmarks to strengthen and expand your community's commitment to quality youth development.

Celebrate your successes and continue to meet new benchmarks while sustaining those you've already met.

QYD – The First Five Years

In 2018, after several years of inception and incubation, the Quality Youth Development Project was launched by Essex CHIPS (Essex VT). Over the following five years, ten communities in New England and beyond, began the QYD quest.

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Why Become a QYD™ Community?

Communities who take on the QYD Project™ become certified as QYD Communities™ by meeting at least 7 of the 10 QYD Benchmarks. Through this hands-on, youth-engaging process, the community becomes more aware of the methods and value of supporting youth, and many youth in the QYD Community™ will:

feel more valued and respected
be offered more meaningful opportunities
demonstrate increased resilience and self-confidence
be more likely to thrive in school and as community members
be more inclined to remain in, or return to, the community after school graduation

“I have been continually impressed with the project's ability to engage teens, of all ages and abilities, in meaningful ways. Likewise, it has been amazing to see those teens share their many talents with our community.”

Lindsey Fuentes-George, Co-Chair of Middlebury QYD

Contact the QYD Project™

For Vermont QYD, contact Sarah Brunkhorst at sarah@qyd.center or ‪802-489-6873‬

For National QYD, contact David Voegele at david@qyd.center or 978-255-3772

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