Kalamazoo Youth Development Network (KYD Network) envisions an anti-racist community where all youth thrive. Our mission, how we believe we can reach our vision, is by coordinating an out-of-school time (OST) sector that is anti-racist, youth-driven, and equitable. We seek to sustain liberatory learning environments and organizations by taking an anti-racist, healing-centered, and youth- and family-driven approach to our internal processes and collective work.

We partner with over 50 youth-serving organizations in Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties to achieve our common vision for youth. We provide training, coaching, and technical assistance using the assess/plan/improve model from the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. Our training and resources center around our five elements of liberation: Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Youth Leadership, Inclusion & Equity, Family Engagement, and Program Quality.

The goal of this work is to improve the skills of Youth Development Advocates so that learning environments and program quality in the out-of-school time (OST) sector improve, are youth- and family-driven, and are liberatory. These improvements strengthen the social emotional learning (SEL) and leadership skills of the youth we serve. These SEL improvements help youth strengthen their school behavior, attendance, and academic performance. Together, these efforts will culminate to achieve and maintain our vision of an anti-racist community where all youth thrive!

Be The Y

By Kalamazoo Youth Development Network

Be The Y

Be The Y! You have the opportunity to empower youth, support local youth programs, and play a part in creating a community where all youth thrive through the power of your generosity!

Team Members