"Purpose Grows Here" Workshop Featured in the Cornell Chronicle
What is purpose? Does purpose matter? These guiding questions serve as a preview of the themes covered in the “Purpose Grows Here” workshop. This workshop is intended to offer youth educators the opportunity and space to learn, reflect, share and incorporate purpose-driven work into action. Our work was recently featured in the Cornell Chronicle, covered by Juan Vazquez-Leddon.
PRYDE Director, Kristen Elmore and PRYDE staff are at the forefront of this initiative, bridging conversations about research on youth purpose and helping youth educators understand how to tangibly foster ways for young people to build a sense of purpose. During the full-day workshop, youth educators are introduced to the ARC model: agency, role clarity and challenge. This framework provides a practical lens for designing learning environments that empower youth to make meaningful choices, understand their roles within a community, and engage in experiences that stretch and grow their skills.
Most notably, the “Purpose Grows Here” workshop emphasizes that all youth have the potential to develop and experience a sense of purpose, regardless of background or circumstance. The workshop has been implemented across youth-serving organizations in New York State, particularly NYS 4-H, underscoring PRYDE’s commitment to connecting practitioners with the science of positive youth development.