PASE Network News

The Wallace Foundation, University of Pittsburgh, and the Forum for Youth Investment recently released "Well-being and Well-becoming Through the Arts: A Picture of Mattering for Youth of Color," a new report identifying seven key elements of "culture-centered, community-based" youth arts programs that can provide a sense of belonging, identity affirmation, and skill development. The report defines culture-centered, community-based youth arts (CCYA) programs as those that integrate high-quality arts learning experiences with community-based youth development practices and culturally sustaining approaches. Through interviews, the researchers identified key elements of these programs, and highlighted recommendations, including increased funding to teaching artists. The report comes with a companion practitioners’ guide, and you can join a March 31, 2025 webinar from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM to learn more about takeaways and actionable insights from the report. 

The Robin Hood Foundation released their Annual Report: The State of Poverty and Disadvantage in New York City. This year’s report reveals a 25% overall poverty rate in New York City, climbing beyond record highs observed in 2022. This uptick reflects outsized increases in the cost of basic needs, including food, housing, and utilities. The report also highlights policies that could support families living in poverty – it spotlights a package of such proposals put forward by New York State’s Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) and shows how recommendations could effectively reduce the persistently high rates of poverty in NYC. Read the full report on the Robin Hood website. 

Lawyers Alliance for New York, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Nonprofit New York, and Philanthropy New York recently released their Safeguarding New York City’s Nonprofit Sector summary report, based on a January 2025 convening for nonprofit staff and volunteers as well as funders. The gathering addressed urgent threats, fostered cross-sector resilience, and equipped nonprofits with actionable resources. The report covers key takeaways, emergent themes, and audience questions from each of the event sessions. 

Earlier this year, the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup released new research from one of the largest national surveys tracking Gen Z's sentiments. The 2024 Voices of Gen Z study offers insights into Gen Z's views about their lives, schools, and future. The report not only identifies key trends in these areas, but also points towards how Gen Z participants are reimagining success as well as how we can better support them in achieving their goals and unlocking their full potential. The findings can be reviewed on an interactive webpage or through a PDF copy of the report.