Effort aims to discover, test and disseminate best practices to positively impact millions of youth through a deepened focus on character development
Press Release – CHICAGO, July 22, 2016 – Today YMCA of the USA announced the establishment of the Character Development Learning Institute (CDLI), made possible by the generous support of the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation’s four year, $20 million grant. Building on the organization’s long history of such efforts, the CDLI will advance the Y’s character development efforts across its youth programs through a collaborative, program-agnostic and deliberate process of verifying, adapting, scaling and sharing evidence-based, impactful best practices.
The Foundation’s grant will help to support the CDLI’s initial four-year launch phase, creating a comprehensive framework upon which to build an enduring institute and reinforce the Y’s well-established youth character development work.
“We are both humbled and overjoyed by the generosity of the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, and are determined to make the CDLI a world-class incubator for best practices in character development,” said Bela Moté, VP of Evidence-Based Youth Development Interventions and National Director of Character Development, YMCA of the USA. “The CDLI defines youth character development as the process through which youth develop and integrate a set of values, skills, attitudes and behaviors that allow them to navigate successfully and responsibly in learning, work and life. We’re excited to begin our work to make this a reality and engender a lifetime of personal and professional growth for our program participants.”
The CDLI will provide the training, tools and knowledge necessary to implement character development practices that can lead youth to make positive gains in school and life. Establishment of the CDLI commences immediately.
