UP for Learning

Founded in 2008, Unleashing the Power of Partnership for Learning, Inc. (UP for Learning) empowers youth and adults to reimagine and transform education together. Through equitable, cross-generational partnerships rooted in shared power, voice, and responsibility, UP helps build learning environments where all young people feel a sense of purpose, belonging, and agency. UP partners with youth-focused, district-wide and statewide teams to create conditions for meaningful, sustainable change. We guide school communities through a process of collaborative learning and leadership, equipping youth and adults with tools to:
-Create foundational relationships so all members of a school community feel valued and heard
-Collect and analyze school data (ex. climate, discipline, YRBS, etc.)
-Build consensus through shared dialogue
-Practice with a broad range of tools for making change - from deep listening and inclusive decision-making to facilitation and presentation skills
-Develop solutions rooted in community values

Whether in a single classroom or across a multi-district region or community, UP helps educational systems shift to relationship-focused communities of engagement, equity, and collective responsibility.

UP is a national leader in amplifying student voice and advocating for policies that promote educational equity—because we believe that equitable education is a human right. Pre- and post-program surveys consistently show that youth involved with UP feel empowered to create positive change in their schools and communities. These young leaders are prepared to participate fully in our democracy and advocate for a more just and inclusive world. Too often, decisions about young people’s education and futures are made without their input. Research shows that youth care deeply about their communities and want to improve them. UP’s facilitation and partnership helps youth and adults understand how involving youth in shaping their education, and therefore their futures, increases engagement and our collective potential. For 17 years, UP and our partners have built meaningful relationships, imagined new possibilities, and taken action to create the future they envision. We’ve seen countless moments of inspiration ripple outward to create lasting change in communities in Vermont and across the country.

Business Categories

• Consulting/Training
• Education
• Human Rights/Social Justice
• Non-profit