As evacuees from Hurricane Katrina started pouring in to the Houston Astrodome, a youth development trainer from Washington D.C. named Charles Modiano found himself working side by side with energetic young volunteers to help the displaced. In those hours, Modiano decided that needs created and uncovered by the storm could be the focus of a new effort to strengthen youth volunteerism nationwide. He spoke to Rob Capriccioso about his vision.

For students at Minnesota's School of Environmental Studies, it's all happening at the zoo. Andrea Grazzini Walstrom looks at an unusual high school that makes the most of its unique location at the Minnesota Zoo.

It seems obvious that any organization that serves kids will benefit from understanding parents' perspectives. But it's not always easy to include the parent voice. This article by Casey Flaherty from the May-June 2005 issue of Children's Advocate looks at three examples of bringing parents into the discussion.

In a notoriously troubled New York City neighborhood, Isis Sapp-Grant has created a supportive haven for girls besieged by drug dealers, sexual predators, family violence and gangs. Holly St. Lifer spoke with Sapp-Grant about her Blossom Program for Girls.

At age 30, the Head Start program is on the defensive, facing criticism and efforts to change its basic structure. But Head Start also has its passionate defenders such as Jerrie deRose, who sent us this e-mail after seeing a profile of the Rosemount Head Start program in Washington DC on our Web site.

In Eureka, Arkansas, an ever-growing after-school program demonstrates that by supporting kids, a community can tap into an often-ignored source of strength: kid power. Elizabeth Bartlett reports on how Eureka Kids is creating teen leaders and community-minded young people.

Librarians and teens do have something in common: both are saddled with persistent public images impervious to reality. But the images are poles apart. Can the prim, silence-enforcing Librarian reach out to—and learn from—the reckless, noisy, Teen? Connect for Kids Editor Susan Phillips interviewed Deborah Taylor of Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Library about the library’s expanding commitment to youth development.

Why do some teens—and even younger kids—use steroids? Connect for Kids' former staff writer Rob Capriccioso interviews Dr. Harrison Pope, a Harvard researcher, to help understand the subculture of youth steroid use.

In New York City, a unique non-profit called Common Cents raises serious money through school-based “penny harvests”, then gives students a serious voice in using the cash to improve communities. Daniel deZeeuw wrote about his involvement in the 2003-2004 campaign.

Roller rinks, aquariums, and art centers, oh my! More and more kids are lending their creative ideas to help build strong communities nationwide. And, in some cases, they're helping bring in the bucks to accomplish positive changes for youth. Rob Capriccioso reports.