We're Simply Gardeners

Our youth come to Dent to grow as creatives, makers, listeners, teammates, problem solvers, doers and learners. It is expected that all of our youth come a different points along their socio-emotional journey, which means that growth looks very different for everyone. We partner with JHU’s Center for Research & Reform in Education to conduct an impact evaluation using a research-based Entrepreneurial-Mindset Rubric to track growth along 6 dimensions: self-awareness, curiosity, collaboration, communication, growth mindset, and self-efficacy.

We empower youth to realize the world is malleable & they can make a dent. That begins with fostering self-awareness through introspective reflections & conversations in Morning Circle. Youth lean into curiosity, asking clients/partners strong questions to uncover challenges to root their creative process. In collaborative teams, youth practice strengths-based leadership & peer-accountability to reach weekly goals. To build professionalism, they lead meetings & communicate with clients over email. Learning a new maker skill with advanced equipment requires trial & error; as youth hone their craft, they learn the value of failure in innovation. Our youth build what they imagine, test whether it actually works in real-world constraints, and take their invention to market with a sense of self-efficacy. But don’t take our word for it: https://bit.ly/dentsay.

In our post-program survey, 92% of youth believed in their ability to shape the world around them. Looking ahead, we are beginning to track broader life outcomes (high school/college graduation, upward mobility, initiatives started and capital raised by youth). It's not about whether they sprout flowers, fruits, or big mighty trees. It is our commitment to provide the garden bed where they can safely grow their roots and water them so they can bloom into who they're meant to be.