What is Kyd Network?
Our Vision is to ensure all Kalamazoo County youth are college, career, and community ready by the age of 21.
Our Mission is to ensure that all Kalamazoo County youth have access to high quality, youth-driven, culturally-agile, and equitable OST programs that are part of a well-coordinated system.
Our Goal is implementing a system of quality and accountability to produce the best outcomes for youth who participate in Out-of-School Time programming and ensure youth have access to a full array of enrichment and learning opportunities that prepare them for college, work, and life.
What matters most
Quality
Quality matters in the out-of-school time and we know how to build a quality OST organization and program. KYD Network is part of the David Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality’s network of communities that are implementing the Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI).
Social Emotional Learning
Youth, parents, out-of-school time professionals, and educators across the country acknowledge that youth are missing a critical piece of their “education.” We know that in addition to reading and writing, we need to teach resilience and responsibility, respect, and sound decision making.
Youth Leadership
In 2015, the Kalamazoo County Youth Cabinet was created by KYD Network and other local non-profits to provide youth, ages 14 to 20, with an opportunity to shape their community. The Cabinet is, “Building the community WE want, making the changes WE need” by identifying issues of importance to youth and developing solutions to address these challenges.
Inclusion & Equity
The OST sector in Kalamazoo recognizes that inclusion and equity serve as the foundation of our work and that we must have a common understanding of these concepts and how they apply to our work. As such, KYD Network convenes the Inclusion and Equity Affinity Group to facilitate this work.
Advocacy
KYD Network seeks to advocate for policies and sustainable funding streams that enhance and support high quality OST programming.