Roadmap for keeping America’s Promise

Posted by on December 2, 2005

The AED Center for Youth Development and Policy Research wants to keep you updated on current and innovative afterschool programs and practices. As a result, we would like to inform you of a new report out by the Alliance for youth titled: America’s Promise: Voices Study.

To fill in a part of the picture that all too often is missing, America’s Promise recently undertook a nationwide survey of America’s young people, ages 10 through 17.

With the help of one of the nation’s leading research firms specializing in children, we sought insights directly from young people about their needs and their dreams – insights that will be valuable in helping Americans set priorities for meeting the needs of children and youth.

Overall, many of America’s young people are doing well. They believe in the American Dream. They want for themselves the things adults want for them: to be healthy, productive citizens who give back to society.

But there is a big gap between this dream and the expectations of too many of our young people. More than 40% say they doubt whether they can realize the American Dream for themselves.

These findings cut across lines of race, geography and economic status. Even those young people who seem to be doing well are asking for help in specific areas.

These data give us both a clear call to action and a roadmap for keeping America’s Promise

For a full report please see the following website: http://www.americaspromise.org/files/AP%20VOICES%20STUDY.pdf

Website: http://www.americaspromise.org/media/speakout.cfm

To Post to the PPAS Listserv: If you have an innovative Program or Practice that you would like to have posted on the Promising Practices in Afterschool (PPAS) Listserv, have questions about the Listserv or the AED Center for Youth Development and Policy Research, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 202.884-8513 or via the posting capability at http://www.afterschool.org/ppas_listserv.cfm.