Long-Term Mentoring
The Aspirations Incubator:
Reimagining Rural Youth Development
The Aspirations Incubator is RYI’s signature youth development model, supporting rural communities in creating the conditions young people need to develop optimism, purpose, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging. Grounded in long-term relationships, experiential learning, and deep community connection, the model supports youth across their middle and high school years and onto successful postsecondary pathways. RYI partners with rural communities to adapt the model to their unique strengths, needs, and cultural context, while connecting them to a growing statewide peer network of Aspirations Incubator partners.
As the Aspirations Incubator expands across rural Maine and lays the groundwork for regional and national growth, its Pillars and Practices framework provides a shared foundation for how the work is designed and delivered. The framework articulates the core conditions and practices that help rural youth build meaningful relationships, expand their aspirations, develop agency and confidence, and envision a future grounded in a plan and a purpose.
The Aspirations Incubator Pillars and Practices Framework
After 6 years of refining the model, AI established the Aspirations Incubator Pillars and Practices framework, streamlining its strategic approach to uplifting rural youth aspirations.
ASPIRATIONS
PILLARS
PRACTICES
Framework Pillars
The Pillars of the framework represent the core values that guide the model's innovative approach to youth development. These values include a focus on self-discovery, fostering meaningful connections, building competence, and making a positive contribution. The Pillars stand as the cornerstone of the framework, reflecting AI's primary areas of focus in promoting youth development in rural communities.
Framework Practices
The Pillars set the foundational values, but it's the Practices that provide the hands-on strategies for youth development within each Pillar. Meticulously designed to adapt to each young person's unique strengths and aspirations, the Practices promote youth engagement, skill-building, and personal growth, seamlessly intertwining with the overarching Pillars.
