Education & Training
Cultivating emotional intelligence and conflict resolution among 100,000 young people
Move This World is an organization that builds resilient communities. Their trainings for young people in schools have reduced suspensions and fighting by up to 75 percent.
“A number of Move This World's exercises were inspired by TAI's work, and these curricular tools have been implemented with over 100,000 youth and 3,500 educators across the globe.”
Sara Potler LaHayne, Founder and CEO, Move This World
Ashoka Activating Empathy Award, World Economic Forum Global Shaper
Training 15 to 19-year olds to create lasting change in their communities
“I had the rare opportunity and privilege to go through the TAI program and it has been one of the most significant experiences that I will forever be grateful for. The skills I learned have been more than helpful for me in my personal and professional life. The TAI trainings instill a deep understanding of how to work for the common and greater good of the society without getting burned out or fatigued despite challenges and obstacles that might stand in the way. Going through the program TAI offers has been instrumental in helping me make decisions about my life and career and what I want to bring to the world and the legacy I want to leave behind.
It has not only helped me to be a better person but has been paramount in the success of the organization I started, JumpStart Academy. We train young people in skills such as how to be resilent in the face of insurmountable issues that crop up daily, how to have a forward and optimistic outlook to life, and how to believe their each of their lives has meaning and they have what it takes to reach their goals, despite the difficult situations they may face given their life circumstances.
I always recommend TAI to anyone I meet because the value of what they add to individual lives and professionals is far worth more than gold, diamonds, silver and rubies combined together.”
Omotola Akinsola, Founder, JumpStart Academy (She currently is Assistant Professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato)
Winning Ashoka’s award for offering “the best curriculum on social innovation.”
"When asked about the best curriculum on social innovation that I've come across, I frequently refer professors to the TAI example. It is rare to see a course and body of teaching tools that is derived from such rigorous research and theoretical underpinnings that make professors impressed, combined with an engaging pedagogy that keep students learning and growing more than most other courses allow. TAI won an Ashoka U Cordes Innovation Award in 2010 to recognize impact, replicability and innovation. This is a well-deserved honor given the robust track record, level of impact and uniqueness of pedagogy that the TAI curriculum represents.”
Marina Kim, Director, Ashoka U Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur
Offering the “gold-standard curriculum” for training the next generation of change makers
“The most effective social entrepreneurs I know didn't grow up wanting to be social entrepreneurs. They lived the problems they seek to address, or they grew intolerant of a status quo that conflicted with their values, and possessed the combination of agency, empathy, and practical skills required to do something about it. TAI invites students to go inward, to reflect on where they come from, and what they're passionate about, and to examine their strengths and talents, and how those strengths fit within the broader social change landscape. It offers practical skills training, grounded not in anecdote, but in actual science and research.
“We know what great teaching and great coursework look like. The problem tends to be one of too much demand and too little supply, with the result that the best courses remain locked away to the privileged few who are able to enroll each semester. TAI has found a way to spread its principles far beyond the walls of a single institution, combining reach and accessibility with a gold-standard curriculum. It would be easy to dismiss ‘training the next generation of changemakers’ as lofty rhetoric. TAI has made it an achievable reality.”
Lennon Flowers, Senior Change Manager, Ashoka Empathy Initiative (2011-13) Founder, the Dinner Party, an award-winning social enterprise
Re-imagining teaching to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century
“TAI offers teachers incredible ways to unleash student potential as innovators and changemakers. Their training exercises are backed by rigorous research. They are easy to adopt with the teaching guidelines for implementation. TAI is unique in getting faculty to get out of traditional academic bubbles and re-imagine teaching to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st Century. No participant will remain in the analytical margin. Every participant will emerge with a deep understanding of what students will experience. TAI programs are truly energetic and energizing. I have seen the power of their teaching proposals from the ‘Story of your Life’ assignment to dancing Michael Jackson’s Thriller in a class activity on leaders and followers. My students still talk about what they learned; they apply the lessons in their changemaking.”
Patricia Márquez, Dean, Kroc School of Peace Studies
University of San Diego
Helping students find meaning and purpose at nearly 200 colleges and universities
“When Echoing Green first considered the creation of an activity guide that would equip faculty and staff at colleges, universities and nonprofits to instill a sense of purpose in emerging professionals, we went straight to TAI. As an Echoing Green Fellowship organization, we knew TAI's strong reputation for turning scientific research into engaging and effective classroom content.
“Though it has evolved with time, TAI's contributions remain the backbone of our Work on Purpose curriculum, which is now being used by approximately 800 faculty and staff at nearly 200 colleges, universities, nonprofits and, most recently, corporations.”
Linda Kay Klein, Former Director, Work on Purpose, Echoing Green, Founder and President of the non-profit, Break Free Together
Aspiring college students become the first in their families to graduate from college
“Project GRAD helps low income, 1st generation high school students get into and succeed in college. We were inspired by TAI’s work highlighting the importance of skills like emotional intelligence, resilience, empathy, and grit. It easily won over our skeptical partner – public school administrators, counselors, and teachers. After consulting with TAI, we completely redesigned our approach to college access and college success. We now deliver curricula promoting social emotional learning skills and the growth mindset to help our students overcome the myriad barriers to academic success.
Claremont Graduate University has been evaluating our progress the past four years in a quasi-experimental, longitudinal study and the results are extremely promising. There have been statistically significant improvements in student attitudes, academic behaviors, and grit. Project GRAD scholars graduate at a rate three times higher than their peers.
Just as we hope our students transform their extended families and communities, we know that the power of TAI’s ideas can send ripples across the world.”
Erik Osugi, Former VP and Chief Program Officer, Project GRAD Los Angeles