Don Carpenter on Closing “The Aspirations Gap” with Rural Youth
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Don Carpenter has spent the bulk of his career working on youth development.  Today he’s executive director of the Rural Futures Fund, an organization focused on kids in rural settings, working to help them close what he calls the “aspirations gap,” between them and their peers in more affluent settings.   

Chapters:

**01:11 Meet Don Carpenter **Bill introduces Don Carpenter, Executive Director of the Rural Futures Fund, an organization dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for youth in rural areas.  

**03:03 The Trekker Model **Don discusses the Trekker youth development mentoring model, which connects caring adults with students in a cohort-based approach. This innovative model emphasizes outdoor experiences to foster relationships and personal growth over six years. 

**06:18 Focusing on Rural Youth **The conversation shifts to the unique challenges faced by youth in rural settings, particularly regarding educational aspirations.  

**07:32 The Birth of the Rural Futures Fund **Don explains the evolution of the Rural Futures Fund and its mission to support youth development initiatives. He shares how the fund aims to tackle the aspirations gap, particularly during the critical 8th to 9th-grade transition. 

**10:09 Creating the Aspirations Incubator **Don elaborates on the Aspirations Incubator, a project designed to empower rural communities by providing resources and support for youth development.  

**12:15 Measuring Success **The discussion turns to the metrics used to evaluate the success of the Aspirations Incubator. Don outlines the focus on social-emotional development, academic achievement, and post-secondary aspirations among participating youth. 

**22:35 Results and Learnings **Don shares the impressive results from the first cohort of the Aspirations Incubator, highlighting significant improvements in students’ sense of belonging and post-secondary enrollment rates.  

**29:09 Understanding Summer Melt **In this chapter, Don discusses the national phenomenon of summer melt, where a significant percentage of students fail to enroll in college after graduation. He highlights how their program achieved a remarkable 78% enrollment rate and the ongoing efforts to address this issue for future cohorts. 

**30:29 Reflections on Results **Don reflects on the outcomes of the program, sharing his initial expectations and the unexpected support provided to organizational leadership during the pandemic.  

**33:39 The Impact of the Pandemic **This chapter delves into how the pandemic influenced the program’s operations and the unique support provided to students during this challenging time. Don shares heartwarming examples of how program managers maintained connections and provided essential services to families. 

**36:37 Adapting to New Challenges **Don explains the fundamental differences in their model compared to traditional youth-serving organizations, especially in terms of maintaining relationships with students.  

**39:02 Looking Ahead: The Rural Youth Institute **Don introduces the Rural Youth Institute, designed to build on the successes of the previous program. He outlines its pillars and the intention to expand its reach beyond Maine to support rural youth nationwide. 

**44:04 The Importance of Community Connection **Don highlights the significance of fostering a sense of belonging among rural youth and the potential impact on their communities. He discusses the challenges of brain drain and how their program aims to empower young people to return and contribute to their hometowns. 

**46:01 A Legacy of Inspiration **In this closing chapter, Don shares the personal fulfillment he derives from his work, including officiating weddings for program alumni. The conversation wraps up with a reflection on the importance of optimism and community support in shaping the future of rural youth.