In the heart of Chicago, Kaitlyn Palmer is redefining how youth from strategically undervalued communities discover their potential.
A curriculum development leader at Youth Guidance, Kaitlyn’s work is grounded in empowering young people to find their voices, hone their skills, and imagine futures beyond their immediate circumstances. Her approach is rooted in equity, creativity, and a profound belief in the transformative power of education and storytelling.
“It’s about centering youth voices,” Kaitlyn explains. “I see it as a disservice if we don’t include them in the process. They need to see themselves reflected in what they’re learning. It’s a non-negotiable for me.”
Kaitlyn’s journey to this work wasn’t linear. Originally from Memphis, she moved to Chicago in 2012, searching for a “real job,” as she puts it. She started in social services, working in diverse environments, including residential treatment centers and juvenile detention facilities.
“Curriculum has the power to inspire, impact, and revolutionize.”
— Kaitlyn Palmer, Senior Manager of Professional Learning and Curriculum Development
It was during her time as a juvenile detention officer that she realized the potential of curriculum to inspire change. By introducing programs like a literacy initiative for incarcerated girls, she saw how structured, meaningful activities could transform an environment of despair into one of hope and anticipation.
“I started Googling and trying things,” she recalls. “When the residents began looking forward to programming, I knew I was onto something. Curriculum has the power to inspire, impact, and revolutionize.”
This revelation set her on a path that led to Youth Guidance, where she first worked as a Career Pathways coach. Over time, her role evolved, allowing her to marry her passions for writing and youth development. Kaitlyn’s work is now integral to Youth Guidance’s mission of guiding children to brighter futures.
Curriculum’s Impact
Kaitlyn’s curricula blend social-emotional learning with post-secondary preparedness, an intersection that equips youth for both the challenges of life and the workforce.
Each program in Youth Guidance’s Career Readiness and Success (CRS) department is guided by a structured curriculum, ensuring consistency and intentionality in delivering outcomes. These curricula serve as blueprints that provide youth with actionable tools to navigate post-secondary opportunities while addressing the real-world challenges they face in underserved communities.
Using a framework called MHA Skill Blocks, the programs focus on essential skills such as personal mindset, collaboration, and verbal communication. These Skill Blocks are a set of core social, emotional, and cognitive competencies identified as critical for success in college, careers, and life, ensuring that youth are prepared to navigate real-world challenges with confidence and adaptability.
“We’re not separating life skills from workforce readiness,” Kaitlyn says. “The programming is holistic, culturally responsive, and designed to reflect the lived experiences of our students.”
Youth As Co-Creators
Kaitlyn’s signature approach, “For Youth, By Youth,” places young people at the center of curriculum development. From focus groups to internships, youth are not just participants but co-creators. They contribute ideas, critique drafts, and even design artistic elements of the curricula.
“This model provides equity and validates their voices,” Kaitlyn says. “It teaches skills, offers exposure, and ensures their contributions are not only acknowledged but celebrated. When youth see their work published or their ideas come to life, it’s transformative.”
One example of how curricula have inspired innovative programming is Hussle Days, created by Becoming A Man (BAM) counselor Josh Hurley. Drawing from the “Blueprint to Becoming” curriculum—which includes an entrepreneurial component—Hurley designed the program to engage students in hands-on business development.
“When youth see their work published or their ideas come to life, it’s transformative.”
— Kaitlyn Palmer
Inspired by the late rapper, community activist, and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle, interns split into two groups to develop their own shoe-cleaning businesses, designing logos and promotional flyers using Canva. They then pitched their businesses to each other, refining their communication and presentation skills in the process.
Following this, the students set up shop inside the building that houses Youth Guidance’s central office in downtown Chicago, offering shoe-cleaning services to local professionals. Through these real-world entrepreneurial activities, they not only earned income but also learned critical life and business skills, including pitching their services and interacting with the community.
The impact of Hussle Days was profound. Students were introduced to concepts such as “value creation” and “equity-building” through hands-on activities. They also developed soft skills like communication, time management, and collaboration, which are crucial for future success. The program emphasized the importance of creating a sustainable livelihood aligned with personal values—a principle drawn from Nipsey Hussle’s philosophy of self-empowerment and community building. In addition, students reflected on their experiences in group discussions, solidifying the lessons learned.
“It was a different type of hustle,” Kaitlyn explains. “It was deeply community-oriented and pushed against the grain of present-day gig culture. The students practiced skills they’ll carry for life.”
The Power of Visibility
The intentional design of the youth-informed curricula developed by CRS has yielded significant results. In recent surveys, 96 percent of program participants reported successfully meeting their goals, and 98 percent said they’d recommend the program to peers. Counselors also play a critical role, acting as guides and ambassadors of the curricula.
“If the counselors don’t feel a sense of fullness and alignment with the curriculum, it won’t translate to the youth,” Kaitlyn emphasizes. “Their investment is essential, and our training programs are designed to ensure they can embody and champion the work.”
This alignment between counselors and curriculum often leads to transformative moments for youth. For instance, a student in the BAM Fellowship Initiative (BAM-FI) program in Washington, D.C., created the cover art for a curriculum and received a printed copy to share with his peers and community.
“He was walking around with the biggest smile, holding the curriculum like a trophy,” Kaitlyn recalls, sharing a moment relayed to her by Dr. Christina Sessoms, BAM-FI College & Career Manager. “That’s the power of visibility. It changes how they see themselves and their place in the world.”
Youth Guidance marketing and communications intern Stacay Woods contributed to this article.