Notorious to Notable

Collaboration is hard. Sometimes it has substantial costs.   Philanthropic collaboration is relatively rare as there is little demanding it except the heartfelt belief that we can do better together than alone.  That's what is at the core of the YTFG ~ a belief that we are more likely to transform young people's lives and the systems that serve them through shared resources, knowledge and leadership than stand alone grantmaking.


The newly released Notorious to Notable: The Crucial Role of the Philanthropic Community in Transforming the Juvenile Justice System in Washington, D.C. tells the story of a phenomenal collaboration between government and philanthropy. The report highlights the many lessons learned from the effort to transform juvenile justice in our nation's capitol.  I'm sure most of you know the story of the transformation of Oak Hill Youth Center, DC's youth incarceration facility.  There were several significant features of this transformation: A new facility designed around smaller, more respectful living quarters; staff re-training based on the "Missouri Model" to fully integrate youth development principles; and a creative collaboration with See Forever to create a dynamic school environment.