The Cities of LRNG initiative aims to maximize Connected Learning by fostering robust local learning ecosystems that support youth academic and career preparation. At its heart is partnership: connecting informal learning actors—for example, community-based organizations, libraries, museums, and makerspaces—with schools, city leaders, employers, and postsecondary institutions. Each participating city has an anchor organization or group of organizations that are hubs for connecting local institutions to each other and to the national LRNG initiative.

To articulate the goals and activities of Cities of LRNG, we developed a logic model in partnership with staff and leaders from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the 2015 cities. The images below (click to enlarge) illustrate LRNG’s operational plan, activities, and expected outputs for youth, anchor organizations, local partner organizations, and employers and postsecondary institutions. It depicts short-, intermediate-, and long-term outcomes in three domains: Youth Learning (youth learning and social development), Youth Opportunities (youth educational and career advancement), and the Learning Ecosystem (system-level changes to ecosystem actors, practices, and policies).

These models capture program design as of March 2016, although details are likely to change as the initiative evolves. The logic model provides a foundation for operational and performance measurement planning and evaluation planning, and is a communication tool for explaining the initiative to a wide range of audiences.

Simplified model (click image to enlarge)

Detailed model (click image to enlarge)