Anchorage Youth Development Coalition (AYDC) invites staff, volunteers, and board members from youth-serving organizations throughout Anchorage to apply for our 2025 Second Order Change professional learning series.
This series is designed to cultivate leadership, social-emotional intelligence, and inclusive practices that support positive outcomes and help you create environments where all youth thrive. Through collaborative learning, reflection, and relationship-building, participants will grow both personally and professionally, while creating meaningful change in the communities they serve.
We encourage everyone to apply, regardless of role or experience, because diverse perspectives strengthen our collective growth.
Spots are limited. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance on a rolling basis to ensure transparency and equity in selection. If financial assistance is needed, please contact us for support—no one will be excluded for financial reasons.
For questions or support, contact Rebekah Wilcox at rebekah@safealaskans.org.
All sessions will be held in person on Wednesdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
A link to a call for applications will be shared here soon! A link to the application will be shared here on November 22.
AYDC Second Order Change is a leadership development series and a professional learning community. It is designed to support staff in delivering high quality youth development programs. AYDC Second Order Change was developed with leadership funding from Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc.
At AYDC, we believe that every young person—regardless of race, ability, gender identity, or background—deserves access to environments, relationships, and opportunities that foster their growth and well-being. Second Order Change is designed to help youth-serving professionals create spaces that reflect these values, while also supporting their own well-being.
Research demonstrates that positive outcomes like health, civic engagement, and economic security depend on more than individual effort—they require systemic change in the environments and relationships that shape young people’s lives. This initiative gives participants the tools to cultivate leadership through cultural humility and social-emotional intelligence, which studies show accounts for more than 50% of effectiveness in professional roles.
Since the program’s launch in 2016-17, participants have reported significant growth in emotional intelligence and cultural responsiveness, especially among those who maintained consistent attendance. Now in its eighth year, Second Order Change continues to help youth professionals transform their practices while prioritizing equity in positive youth development.
The six weekly in-person sessions are mandatory, to create a safe and trusted space where all participants can fully engage with the learning community. We understand that online learning may be more convenient, but this program emphasizes relationship-building, mutual learning, and reflection, which are best cultivated in person.
We use the CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) framework, focusing on five core social-emotional learning (SEL) domains. These domains will guide participants as they explore topics such as:
Participants will connect with peers from youth-serving organizations across the Anchorage area, building cross-organizational relationships that reflect the diversity of our community. Together, they will co-create strategies to address challenges and integrate inclusive practices into their work.
This program is more than professional development—it’s an opportunity to become part of a movement toward equity in youth development. By joining, participants will:
Our aim is to empower participants to build environments that are not only effective, but also equitable, inclusive, and healing-centered—where every young person feels seen, heard, and valued.
We look forward to walking this path with you in 2025!
In 2022, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) featured this initiative at their SEL Exchange Virtual Summit. The story highlights how AYDC developed the program in partnership with Communities of Schools of Atlanta to create a comprehensive training curriculum.
You can watch this inspiring 8-minute story and learn more about our journey here: CASEL.org. For additional insights from the 2022 SEL Exchange Virtual Summit, on-demand access is available for purchase.
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Contributing member organizations invest in a stronger youth-serving community. View current contributing member organizations here.
The Anchorage Youth Development Coalition supports organizations to advance positive youth development. Become a contributing coalition member to build a community of professional youth work for all young people.
4241 B Street, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 929-3939
E-mail: info@safealaskans.org
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