Positive Youth Development: An Introduction

From organizing fundraisers to cleaning up parks, groups of young people in every city and town across the country are engaged in both national and grassroots efforts to enrich their neighborhoods, their schools and their futures.

Though they may not know it, these youth embody a philosophy embraced by many community members and policymakers: Positive Youth Development.

Proponents of PYD say that through the support of caring adults, these young people are gaining self confidence, trust, and practical knowledge – qualities that will help them grow up happy, healthy and self sufficient.