By Liberty Belote, UP Program Associate

As the days get longer and warmer, we’re all feeling that spring energy! It’s the perfect time to reflect, refresh, and reimagine. Education transformation requires an open mind, a spirit of collaboration, and a whole lot of sharing. That’s why this spring, UP has been on the go, attending conferences, expanding our knowledge, and preparing for another year of exciting, change-making work. Here’s a quick look at where we’ve been and what we’ve learned so far!

The NEERO Conference (March 28th)

In March, UP took part in the New England Educational Research Organization (NEERO) conference in Portsmouth, NH. Our own Youth Program Specialist Mea Ree Jan, Youth Intern Mavis Downey, and Program Director Pat LaClair presented The Student Voice Revolution: Shifting Power, Shaping Learning – Using YPAR to Transform Teaching and Learning, alongside Rick Battistoni from Providence College. As the only youth-adult team presenting, they were met with high praise for their project and the way they brought it to life. Want to learn more about the project? Read Mavis’s reflections on the project here. The conference also featured a keynote on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and we got to dive into exciting discussions about teacher training and A.I. in the classroom. We’re eager to continue building on these experiences, and we hope to be at more events like this in the future!

Prevention Day 2025 (April 3rd)

April 3rd, 2025, was officially declared “Prevention Day” by Governor Phil Scott—a day to focus on preventing substance misuse and other risks, particularly for youth. UP for Learning joined Prevention Works! at their conference in Montpelier, connecting with others who are passionate about prevention. Jacoby Soter, our Youth Program Specialist, and Mavis Downey spoke with state Representatives and Senators, attended committee sessions, and shared our Getting to ‘Y’ program—a best-practice, evidence-based initiative that empowers youth to analyze the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and tackle key risk factors in their schools and communities. It was a day of learning, advocacy, and connection, and we left feeling even more inspired and aligned with our prevention partners. Want to dive deeper into Getting to ‘Y’? Check it out here!

On April 8th, UP Youth Program Specialist, Ana Lindert-Boyes and UP Executive Director, Lindsey Halman attended and presented at the School Redesign in Action 2025 Conference. The Conference was the Great Schools Partnership’s thirteenth annual conference for educators, students, and community partners from New England and across the nation to highlight and share school redesign efforts that are improving educational equity and personalized learning. The theme of the day was “From Action to Impact” and was full of learning and connecting with hundreds of educators from across the U.S., creating renewed energy and inspiration to ensure that all students have an engaging and equitable education. Ana and Lindsey were part of the Diversifying the Educator Workforce (DEW) panel sharing the work UP does to support DEW by empowering youth and adults to partner to transform education. This panel provided them an opportunity to share the work UP is doing in order to strengthen DEW practices throughout New England.

Emerging Educators Pathway Summit (April 9th)

On April 9th, UP had the opportunity to attend the Emerging Educators Pathways Summit at Lake Morey, hosted by the Vermont Department of Education, the Vermont Department of Labor, and the Vermont Rural Education Collaborative. We spent the day learning from other organizations about how they’re integrating the apprenticeship model into training new educators, and what part we all have to play in this movement. It was an incredibly insightful experience, and we’re excited to take what we learned and apply it to improve our own Youth Internship Program for the possible young educators involved! 

 

The Education Justice Coalition’s Statewide Youth Gathering (April 11th)

April 11th was a special day for UP as we participated as a partner in the Education Justice Coalition’s youth-led conference in Fairlee, VT. The day was all about creating space for youth voices and honoring their leadership. It was packed with skill-building workshops, outdoor activities, and plenty of opportunities for connection and fun. We’re especially proud of our Youth Program Specialists, Mea Ree Jan and Auishma Pradhan, for their leadership in helping to organize this truly unique event. We can’t wait to see more events like this that center the needs and aspirations of young people in social justice work!

 

What’s Next?

But wait, there’s more! We’re not done yet—UP will be presenting at the 20th Annual Transition and Career Planning Conference at Lake Morey on May 2nd. Come check out our lively, youth-adult facilitated workshop on the YPAR process and how it empowers youth at your school! On May 7th, we’ll be tabling at the Empowerment with Prevention Conference in Lake Morey to share more about our Getting to ‘Y’ program with school-based prevention staff. Then on May 8th, we’ll head to Burlington for the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Conference to build systems for a sustainable future—especially for our Youth Internship Program, which is wrapping up its first year. Finally, on May 16th, you’ll find UP presenting at the Annual Vermont Superintendents Association Spring Conference on “Radical Dreaming”! 

If you spot us at any of these events, don’t be shy—come say hello! We’re excited to continue growing, expanding youth-adult partnerships, and connecting with forward-thinking folks like you. May your spring be as colorful as your ideas and as full of potential as all the work still to come!