This is YOUniversal Education Services with a dispatch from the messy middle: Greetings! Along with so many helpful practices and perspectives, we picked up that term of art—the messy middle—from our wonderful In/Tend coaches. May we say: It resonates right now.

Human-centered design (HCD) is a program design approach that asks us to slow down. To exist in the mess awhile. And to trust that the messiness isn’t something we did wrong or something we’re not intending to, but rather crucial to the process of coming to a solution people really want. Human desire isn’t anything linear. Why should a design process to meet it be neat and tidy? 

Are we comfy here? We are…not especially, no! Do we know where we’re headed? Yesterday yes, but today? Not so sure. Have we been tempted to travel roads that feel safe and familiar? Oh yeah, big time! Are we persevering nonetheless? We are! We even trust we’re getting close. (But whew! The sea of stickies. And whew! The chocolate required.)

Throughout my time working with the Thrivology Research Alliance members, a common theme kept popping up: Youth-supporting professionals have a ton of questions for young people, and rightfully so!

We all want the young people we support to thrive, and it’s much easier to help them thrive when we know their wants and needs, their hopes and dreams, and how (or if!) they’re coping with an ever-changing world.

This theme inspired our new series, Thrivology Youth Leaders (TYL) Corner. These quotations and tidbits from our very own Thrivology Youth Leaders are the nuggets of wisdom they offered when prompted with our burning questions:

• What sex education topics do you wish you had more resources for?
• What supports do you and your peers need but aren’t getting?
• What are the qualities that make someone a role model for you?
• How, if at all, do you engage with sexual and reproductive health information online?
• How can we as youth-supporting professionals help you feel more comfortable asking questions about your health and wellbeing?

Young people are teeming with knowledge, insight, and ideas about how you can better help them thrive.

Young people are teeming with knowledge, insight, and ideas about how you can better help them thrive. However, there’s a palpable communication gap between them and the professionals supporting them. When these disconnects persist, young people and professionals struggle to trust each other, and disengagement grows.

Through the process of creating TYL Corner, we’ve learned that young people can struggle to build strong relationships with the professionals in their lives. Past experiences with judgment can create a significant barrier, and different identity groups have their own historical backgrounds, laying out the foundation for medical mistrust.

Also, many young people are simply overwhelmed right now. Economic struggles, current events, and ever-changing digital landscapes are a lot to carry on top of school, extracurricular activities, and personal relationships. When social batteries run low, it can be difficult to make building transformational relationships with adults a priority.

Youth-supporting professionals can also face significant barriers to building strong relationships with young people. When your job is to help young people thrive, it can feel tricky to ask them to contribute their emotional labor to garner feedback.

Many young people may also be facing a swath of unmet needs, and you may be lacking the resources that could help you meet those needs, or it could feel disempowering to have to narrow down to your scope of control. Luckily, one of the greatest resources for young people can be the trusted adults in their lives.

As we start sharing young people’s insights on our Egram and social media channels, consider using these bits of wisdom to bridge the gap between you and the young people you serve. These insights may even serve as useful conversation starters to build stronger relationships and help support the thriving of the youth in your life.

For more resources to help young people thrive, check out Thrivology.com.

This year, Healthy Teen Network’s conference theme is Made to Belong, highlighting the importance of connecting, finding community, and coming together. This April, I had the opportunity to put this theme into practice by leading an activity during our annual staff gathering that embodied that feeling. Part of the activity involved making a song together, so armed with maracas, tambourines, and egg shakers, I encouraged my coworkers to make a beat. The goal wasn’t to create the most beautiful sound in the world; it was to come together and make something unique and have fun!

We worked together as a team, made fun memories, and created something special. That’s the power of music.

As I looked around the room and saw my coworkers shaking their instruments, laughing with one another and trying their hardest to stay on beat, I could feel something shift. Did we make the next trending song of 2026? Not even close! But we made something that was ours. We worked together as a team, made fun memories, and created something special. That’s the power of music.

Music has always been a big part of my life. I first joined band and began playing various instruments in elementary school. In 4^th grade, my cello was bigger than I was, and I was dedicated to lugging it around school like a champ. I have fond memories of sharing my earbuds with friends on the bus ride home from middle school. In high school, I took to the stage and sang my heart out alongside friends as we performed musicals like Into the Woods and The Wizard of Oz.

Music as connection

Even now, as an adult, music continues to play an important role in my life. It helps me connect with others and build meaningful bonds, which is especially valuable when the world around me can feel scary and uncertain.

Unsurprisingly, there is a scientific reason why music makes us feel good and draws us to one another. Researchers believe it is directly related to rhythm. Moving to a beat helps synchronize our brains and bodies. When we do that in a group, it can strengthen our sense of community, release dopamine and endorphins (the neurotransmitters responsible for pleasure and mood boosts), and create social cohesion.

One study by Idil Kokal asked two-year-olds to synchronize their dancing to a drumbeat, and the results were insightful and adorable. To keep it simple, when one child started to lose focus or drift off beat, the other would jump in to help. These children began as strangers, but dancing together transformed them into the cutest dance team you’ve ever seen. If that’s not a great example of the power of community within music, I don’t know what is!

Music as community

One of my favorite parts about music is how deeply it is woven into so many cultures. As a Black American, I find that music runs deep in my culture and has connected my people for generations. A perfect example are my family’s summer cookouts. During the summer, friends and family gather around and enjoy food, games, and of course, music! The songs that incorporate line dances are my favorite, because as soon as the first notes of a song begin to play, everyone rushes to the dance floor. It’s a magical moment. You can feel the energy in the air as everyone dances in sync. People are laughing, jumping around, and even if you get a move wrong, there’s no shame, just laughter (and maybe some light teasing!). Grandparents, uncles, teenagers, and even toddlers wiggle to the beat, performing dances that have been passed down from generation to generation. After the dance is over, we giggle, hug, and share stories, deepening our connections while music continues to play in the background.

If you are inspired to find community through music, there are so many ways to do it!

If you are inspired to find community through music, there are so many ways to do it! Concerts are an easy way to find people. I can’t count the number of times I’ve made friends while waiting in a long concert line or turned to the stranger next to me to sing along to our favorite song, instantly connected by our shared love of the same artist.

If loud concert venues aren’t your thing, consider checking out community events in your city. Many communities host a variety of music-related gatherings, from drum circles to live jazz performances. Maybe you’re like me and played an instrument in school, but it’s now tucked away in a closet. This could be the perfect time to brush up on your skills, invite some friends over for a jam session, or sit down at a public piano and see who stops to listen or chat. Music is beautiful because it transcends culture, age, and language, so you never know who you will meet and connect with.

If you’re interested in finding belonging in music with us this year, consider attending our conference in San Diego!

The Rooted Collective team is made up of Elle Lynn Quimpo, Miriam Perez, and Nty Diakite, who work at the intersection of adolescent sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and community care. Drawing from their shared experiences bridging cultures and supporting young people from immigrant families, the team creates spaces grounded in connection, joy, and collective healing.

Together, they are working to address the needs of young people from immigrant families by tackling two key challenges related to sexual and reproductive health: the lack of culturally and linguistically responsive resources and the shortage of trusted, relatable mentors. Each member of Rooted Collective shares a nugget of wisdom from their experience with In/Tend, for future In/Tend Innovation Development Team cohorts.

It’s hard to believe how long it’s been since remote work became our “new normal.” In a world where many of us have traded long commutes and water-cooler chats for Zoom fatigue and Slack pings, it can be easy to forget what made in-person work so valuable and why folks still light up at the chance to be together.

But in-person gatherings aren’t just a box to check or a grant deliverable to meet. They meet deep human needs that screens simply can’t replicate.

But in-person gatherings aren’t just a box to check or a grant deliverable to meet. They meet deep human needs that screens simply can’t replicate. Last month, True You Maryland held an in-person project-wide meeting for partners across the state that left everyone with more than just strategies and plans. We asked attendees, “What do you value about being together in person?” Here’s what they had to say.

“Human connection. Warmer conversations. Being in the same environment.”

Unsurprisingly, the top response was simply being around other people and the power of real human connection. Attendees shared that being in person makes them “feel less alone and more united” and that they value “sharing ideas, learning about each other, and hugs!”

There’s even a certain reunion feel to these meetings: “I value the opportunity to connect with former coworkers and people I haven’t seen in a while… being able to meet the people that I typically see on screen.” Being together allows us to bond and strengthen relationships in a way that virtual calls just don’t capture. One person simply said they value “laughs.” And honestly, same.

“Sense of community”

Remote work takes away those hallway chats and “stop by my desk” side conversations that help build community and foster belonging. When we’re all in the same space, we bring those moments back, whether it’s walking past an old colleague in between sessions or sitting with a new one at lunch. Attendees really loved “the in-between session chit chats and opportunities to get to know each other informally” and the “ease of connection, lack of distraction, and camaraderie.”

There is also something to be said about witnessing and supporting the work of your colleagues in real life, rather than just through a shared virtual presentation. As another attendee noted, “I value others’ input from their communities and the suggestions they bring to the group. The support from the entire group is fantastic!”

“More organic conversation”

Face-to-face settings unlock a different level of conversation, one with more depth and spontaneity.

Face-to-face settings unlock a different level of conversation, one with more depth and spontaneity. Sometimes the best conversations come from those unstructured moments—a random encounter at the coffee station or a follow-up chat after an engaging keynote presentation. As one attendee noted, being together allows “getting more in-depth than we can on a Zoom meeting,” with others adding that the “increased level of engagement and connection” was important to them.

Showing up together also lets everyone get out of their usual environment (whether at home or in an office) and focus on one thing, rather than worrying about the to-do list that’s now longer than a CVS receipt. Conversations become richer and more engaging when we’re sharing space with folks who are all on the same page.

“Sharing experiences”

Sure, we talk about our experiences on video calls all the time. But there’s something about sharing these stories with others face-to-face that adds an extra layer of connectedness among us and to our work. One partner noted that “making connections in person feels to me like it is more solid and productive,” while others added that they enjoy learning new ideas and taking them back to their individual settings. Another partner summed this up perfectly when they shared that they value “seeing everyone in person! Talking about their wins and their strides. Creating space for new ideas and creative solutions to shared challenges.” I love the moments where formal facilitation is no longer needed because the conversation has taken off—successes are being celebrated, problems are being solved, and no one wants to move on to the next part of the agenda because the discussion has gotten that good.

 One response captured the energy of the day perfectly: “I love being able to hear and learn what members of the team are implementing and having success with. I enjoy people, and being together always reminds me [of] what amazing people surround me in this room.” Truthfully, when I think about what I value most about in-person gatherings, this is it. Turns out, no remote work software has figured out how to replicate this energy (yet). But when it comes to being in a room with incredible people doing incredible work (and having fun while doing it!), I don’t think I’d be interested in that subscription anyway.

As a team grounded in adolescent sexual and reproductive health, youth development, and prevention work, we brought decades of experience to our In/Tend innovation development team, the Waking Dreamers. As three Executive Directors of youth-focused organizations, between us, we have experience ranging from direct work with formerly incarcerated young people to federal public health grants management to national norms-change theater programming, and more.

But one of the most important things we did on this project was step outside that expertise—and into discomfort.

Through a series of experiences, including the experience of learning to be human-centered design innovators as part of the In/Tend cohort, we placed ourselves in unfamiliar situations: asking vulnerable questions, navigating unclear systems, sharing planes and trains and rooms with each other, and relying on others for guidance. In short, we tried to feel what it’s like to be a teen navigating and learning to talk about hard things.

I never really thought I was a “creative” person. I’ve always been drawn to the field of science and health. I liked math as a kid because there was a right answer and usually the “right way” to get it. I certainly wouldn’t call myself good at drawing, painting, or even writing. I used to think that creativity only referred to the arts, and that someone would or would not be “creative.” And I most certainly thought someone had to be creative to be an innovator.

But as I stepped into the innovation space as a project coordinator for In/Tend, I came to realize my definition of creativity was very narrow, that there were many ways creativity can show up in the world, and that maybe I was already being innovative.

But as I stepped into the innovation space as a project coordinator for In/Tend, I came to realize my definition of creativity was very narrow, that there were many ways creativity can show up in the world, and that maybe I was already being innovative.

So let me share with you how puzzles gave me a platform to reimagine what creativity and innovation meant, and how we might already be using innovation in our work.

Different approaches to the same problem

I love puzzles. I love the process of trying to figure out a problem and the moment when the solution is in sight. But do you know a really cool thing about puzzles? Everyone approaches them differently. While not every puzzle has multiple ways to solve it, the way each person brings themselves and their lived experience to a problem is unique. One person may approach a jigsaw puzzle by finding the edge pieces, while another person may start by grouping the individual pieces by color. Maybe you saw someone use a method and are trying to replicate it, or you and three friends are working together to complete the puzzle.

Regardless of the approach, the decision on how to approach a puzzle is a creative one. But how does innovation relate to my puzzle analogy? Well, let me ask you this: Have you ever completed a puzzle using one method and had it work the whole time for the entire puzzle, and for every puzzle you have ever done? I’ll take a wild guess and say it’s unlikely. That is where innovation comes in. When something doesn’t work, you probably think about or change your approach. You took what you tried, maybe what other people tried, or phoned a friend. That pivot? That moment you realize your approach isn’t working? That, my friend, is innovation.

Adaptation is creativity

Just as no single puzzle-solver holds the only right method, no single professional holds the only right approach to supporting young people.

Creativity looks different for everyone, and so can innovation. Just as no single puzzle-solver holds the only right method, no single professional holds the only right approach to supporting young people. This is why innovation in adolescent sexual and reproductive health is so important. Young people navigating questions about their bodies, their identities, and their futures deserve programs and support that are as dynamic as they are. The conventional approaches to sexual and reproductive health education have historically left too many young people behind. It takes creativity and innovation in how we teach and how we design programs and services to meet young people where they are and help them build lives that feel like theirs.

Think about how you already adapt in your day-to-day: how you explain the same concept differently to different young people, how you adjust a training when the audience needs more examples, how you follow a young person’s lead in a conversation rather than following a script. That is innovation. Turns out, you are probably already doing it. The magic of innovation happens when we bring our different strengths and approaches to the same table. When we bring our authentic selves, with our unique problem-solving approaches, our lived experiences, and our individual strengths, we build programs for young people that are more human, more accessible, and ultimately more effective. Programs and services for young people should be designed with young people at the center, just like a puzzle built around its image. Every piece is different, every piece has a place, and every piece is essential.

Together with Morgan Peterson and Sam Wakefield, Maisy is part of the CodED innovation development team for In/Tend, the Healthy Teen Network Incubator Hub. They are working to expand access to comprehensive sex education in rural communities. Grounded in youth support, community organizing, program development, and accessible communications, the team takes a human-centered, community-led approach to addressing gaps in sex ed. Building on early learning and feedback from young people, CodED is focused on prototyping and testing practical, responsive solutions that meet the real needs of rural caregivers and strengthen access to accurate, affirming education.