Want to know what youth want and need from your program? ASK THEM.
Do the right thing, the smart thing, the relevant thing. Listening when youth speak truth to power, and learning how and whether our programs and services are really working.
About Valerie
Valerie Threlfall, is no stranger to striving for authenticity and intentionality in working with young people. From 2008-2012, she lead one of the first national efforts to gather feedback from students about what is working and not working in their schools. This included founding the Youth Truth project, which surveyed over 125,000 kids from 210 different schools, one of the first national efforts to gather comparative feedback from students about their schools. Inspired by that experience, Valerie opened her own consulting firm, where she provides strategic insights to mission-driven organizations with a focus on helping organizations to hear and learn from those they are seeking to serve. Valerie holds a joint MBA and MPP from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and Harvard’s Kennedy School, respectively.
About Connection
Connection isn’t just an event, it’s an experience. Each year the Connection event brings together thought leaders from the youth service field to make unexpected connections that break through the status quo. A refreshing line up of brilliant speakers challenge practice-as-usual and provide participants with the opportunity to learn about and discuss key issues in a relaxed, creative atmosphere. Our innovative format means that you don’t just listen to thought-provoking presentations and fresh ideas, you have the chance to discuss and build upon them. Our broad, multi-sector network means that you can expect the opportunity to talk with familiar colleagues, reconnect where you may have lost touch, and get connected with those outside your network. Even our nontraditional space provides inspiration to move, think, and speak freely. Think youth should have a voice in ‘youth services’? Know others who think so, too? They may want to see this video, and maybe you know a few youth who might appreciate it, too.
