Related posts available under YN Working Conference April 2012

I was fortunate enough to be able to hear Rick Little deliver the keynote address at the Youth-Nex working conference dinner on April 2. My impression of Mr. Little, when my colleague and I assisted him with some logistics earlier in the day, was that he was a very kind and unassuming man. The arrangements were the type that would have exasperated even the most restrained among us. Through it all, however, Little remained unfazed and affable. This was only a glimpse into his profound humanity, as I learned about the scope of his accomplishments and significance of his work during his talk later that evening. (The talk is posted at end of this entry.)

Rick Little is the founder of ImagineNations, International Youth Foundation, and the founding president of America’s Promise Alliance.

During 35 years of work, he has envisioned and established numerous initiatives that promote economic opportunity, job creation and positive youth development operating in more than 100 countries. His work focuses on building practical and sustainable solutions to large-scale challenges by galvanizing relationships among social entrepreneurs, thought leaders and investors from various disciplines. Together they are finding new and better ways of doing business — approaches providing opportunities and incentives that foster respect and human dignity.

Through the writings of noted developmental scientist Dr. Richard Lerner (including: Concepts and Theories of Human Development; The Good Teen; and America’s Youth in Crisis), many of Rick Little’s theories and approaches to fostering positive youth development are now taught in dozens of universities.

Listen to Rick Little’s talk at the YN working conference dinner, April 2, 2012.

Ellen Daniels is the Director of Communications for Youth-Nex.