Focus Session -Beyond Schooling: Reimagining Learning, Development, and Thriving - Karen Pittman in Conversation with David Osher

Karen Pittman is not only a pioneer in the field, but she's one of the most influential thinkers of the past several decades on what it takes for young people to learn, to thrive, and to realize their full potential. Karen's work challenges us to move beyond narrow definitions of achievement and instead look holistically at the environments, the relationships, and the opportunities that allow young people to flourish. From her groundbreaking contributions at the Children's Defense Fund to co-founding the Forum for Youth Investment, to leading national efforts that integrate learning and developmental science, she has reshaped policy conversations, community practice, and our collective aspirations for young people. What makes Karen's perspective powerful is that it is grounded in experience, her formative journey through innovative schools, transformative summer learning environments, and decades of working alongside communities, educators, policymakers, and youth. She has helped the nation recognize that learning does not happen only in classrooms, but also happens across a broad ecosystem of people and places, and that if we want young people to succeed, we must build systems that are coordinated, equitable, and centered on human development.

Part	Title (with hyperlink to discussion)	Presenter	Short Description	Transcripts (with hyperlinks)
	Introduction	David Osher	What the entire episode touches on and why	English Spanish
A	From Experience to Vision: The Origins of  Positive Youth Development	Karen Pittman	Karen Pittman traces how her experiences in innovative schools and youth programs shaped her vision for positive youth development, emphasizing that young people thrive when communities provide strong relationships, meaningful opportunities, challenging experiences, and coordinated support systems that build on their strengths rather than define them by their problems.	English Spanish
B	From Vision to Practice: Building Learning  and Development Ecosystems	Karen Pittman	Karen Pittman explains how to move positive youth development from vision to practice by connecting schools, community organizations, and workforce systems into a coordinated, year-round learning ecosystem that shares resources, strengthens frontline providers, and expands opportunities for young people to thrive.	English Spanish
C	Beyond Schooling: Reimagining How Young People Learn and Thrive	Karen Pittman	Karen Pittman argues that young people thrive when learning extends beyond traditional schooling into diverse, connected environments that integrate academic skills, relationships, active learning, and real-world experiences to prepare them for life, work, and continued growth.	English Spanish

Transcripts are all AI-generated and unedited.

References

Bronfenbrenner, U. (2005). Making human beings human: Bioecological perspectives on human development. Sage.

Ilfeld, E. M. (1996). Learning comes to life: An active learning program for teens. High/Scope Press.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2025). The future of youth development: Building systems and strengthening programs. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. https://www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DBASSE-BCYF-22-03/resources