The Power of Relationships
A Narrative on the Transformative Impact of a Community of Practice in Out-of-School Space.
By Nanyamka Redmond and liz moseley
When a group of dedicated youth workers from nonprofit out-of-school-time (OST) programs stepped into San Antonio-based Excel Academy, many were seeking tools, knowledge, maybe even clarity. But what they found was something deeper—something far more transformative. They found one another.
This wasn’t a typical training. It wasn’t a series of professional development sessions or a one-time workshop. Excel Academy was a Community of Practice (CoP) with the desire to strengthen shared goals and practices, to be “rooted in relationships,” and to benefit each other and the youth they serve. It was built intentionally for youth workers to reflect, grow, and build new ways of reaching young people and addressing their concerns based on the social and cultural needs of youth in San Antonio. And that foundation of connection and empowered desire for transformation changed everything.
“You created space together where you could be seen, heard, challenged, and celebrated,” liz moseley shared at the 2025 graduation. “You brought your full, authentic selves. You made room for others to do the same.”
In the often-isolating world of OST programming—where long hours, emotional labor, and systemic injustice are daily realities—this kind of community is rare yet necessary. Excel Academy became a sanctuary where youth workers didn’t have to explain what they meant, where, as one participant put it, “my double consciousness softened.” It was a space where vulnerability wasn’t just accepted—it was honored.
That vulnerability led to power. Through shared storytelling, critical inquiry, and courageous dialogue, participants began to transform—not just professionally but personally. They didn’t just talk about youth empowerment—they lived it. They didn’t just study equity—they interrogated their own practices, their organizations, and the systems in which they were embedded.
“We’re not trying to fix the plant,” the Excel Academy leaders reminded them. “We’re changing the soil.”
These transformations positively impact the youth served by providing consistency and strong developmental relationships, which have been linked to positive outcomes, including civic engagement, purpose, academic improvement, and resilience (CITE). Outcomes such as these decrease the adverse outcomes seen in youth and have the potential to foster strong Indigenous leaders in the San Antonio community who will continue to give back for generations to come, through the programs that impacted them and in the community that raised them.
A Ripple Effect on Youth Character Development
As youth workers practiced new ways of relating—with each other and with the young people they serve—youth began to notice. They felt more seen. More heard. More respected. And when young people experience those kinds of relationships consistently, something powerful happens: they grow.
Youth in organizations engaged in the CoP reported a stronger sense of belonging and respect. They were more likely to describe their adult mentors as caring and encouraging. Over time, they developed greater perseverance, more confidence in their leadership, and a stronger ability to work with others—all key dimensions of character development.
This was more than anecdotal. Conversations with youth, families, and staff pointed to visible shifts in culture. Adults listened more intentionally. Young people spoke up more boldly. Everyone took more ownership of the space they shared.
As one youth development professional put it:
This ethos of relational change is what made the CoP so impactful. Youth workers began to see that their education and the education of the youth they serve were intertwined. They learned that self-care is not selfish. That discomfort is not a signal to retreat, but a teacher, ushering in the next phase of becoming.
“It wasn’t all sparkles and sunshine. You faced hard questions. You sat with discomfort. And you kept showing up—with courage, with grace, and with each other. When the moments were hard, you were met with love.”
This CoP, educated in the developmental relationships framework, didn’t simply equip youth workers with strategies; it cultivated a beloved community—a term that speaks to solidarity, shared growth, and interdependence. Non-profit work is not for the faint of heart, but youth workers show up and commit to serving youth because relationships are not part of the work—they are the work.
From this rooted space, new collaborations emerged, programs began to shift, and mindsets changed. Youth workers returned to their organizations ready to recreate that sacred space of connection—not just for their students but also for themselves and their colleagues.
“We practiced not leaving ourselves at the door,” one graduate shared. “We learned that silence serves no one.”
In a field often driven by outputs and expediency, the Excel CoP reminded its members to breathe. To rest. To reclaim joy. “Exist outside of urgency,” they were told. “The work will still be there.”
But more than anything the participants were left with a charge: to keep building. To conspire with each other. To make good trouble. Because, as liz closed with Gwendolyn Brooks’ powerful words:
"We are each other’s harvest:
we are each other’s business:
we are each other’s magnitude and bond."
The Excel Academy proved what’s possible when youth workers are given the space to be whole, to be brave, and to be in community. It showed that when we invest in the soil—when we root our work in love, equity, and relationships—we don’t just grow better programs. We grow people. We grow movements. We grow futures.
Acknowledgments:
This guide is the reflection of a community. It was shaped by the wisdom, labor, and love of those who believe that when we invest in people, we create the conditions for transformation.
We acknowledge the many youth development professionals across San Antonio whose courage and curiosity breathe life into Excel Academy. Their stories, questions, and everyday acts of leadership have made this work not only possible, but necessary. To the alumni, current participants, facilitators, and partners, thank you for bringing your full selves to this journey. Your commitment to growth, justice, and relational practice is what holds this community together.
We also honor the organizational leaders, funders, and network partners who continue to make space for learning that is brave. In doing so, you remind us that structures can be sites of liberation when they are built with intention and trust.
Special thanks to the UP Partnership team, Search Institute, and all those who supported the design, implementation, and reflection of Excel Academy. This guide stands as a living artifact of our shared belief: that when adults grow in connection, young people thrive in possibility.
May this guide serve as an offering: a tool for weaving stronger threads of belonging, leadership, and access across our communities.