OUR STORY
Change Up Learning was born from a belief that has always driven Change Impact: the adults who show up for kids every day deserve the same quality of support and investment as the kids themselves. What started as an idea — that professional development for youth workers could be more flexible, more meaningful, and built specifically for this field — grew through years of collaboration, iteration, and partnership into something none of us could have built alone. Today, with a team of 16 and a community of over 90 partners, we’ve delivered more than 92,000 course completions and counting.
THROUGH THE YEARS
TIMELINE
Jen founds Change Impact in 2017. Therese joins in May 2019 and begins exploring self-paced learning platforms, identifying what the youth development sector would need from a purpose-built tool. The team grows to four full-time staff who all wear many hats across training, facilitation, and an emerging digital vision.
A small team. One big pivot. When the pandemic hits, Change Impact and our partners move fully online, swiftly made possible because the team had already been building toward it – for partner organizations, their frontline staff, and consultant facilitators alike.
Danielle joins to lead the build of our professional development platform. Change Impact pilots the vision with four pilot partners: PAL, NIA, New Settlement, and Phipps. NY State approves the platform for child care provider training requirements. An Advisory Board of researchers, equity advocates, and education & technology experts is formed to guide the journey. After the successful pilot, Change Impact officially launches Change Up Learning.
Change Up Learning expands to NYC’s largest youth providers, including NY Edge. Establishes large-scale partnerships with NYC Public Schools and DYCD’s Summer Rising program and Binghamton University. The first Leadership Institute is hosted for partners.
Children’s Aid joins as partner. The Learning Cycle is published, grounded in the science of adult learning, motivation, and habit formation. New tools — Discussion Guides, Debrief Slides, and Coaching Tools — extend learning beyond the screen. A CUNY partnership brings free university credit to course completers.
Automated compliance tracking launches for licensed child care providers. Our Theory of Change is published, articulating how Change Up Learning supports equitable outcomes for youth.
University students reach over $50,000 in cumulative tuition savings through the CUNY credit partnership.
40+ states. 90+ partners. 85,000+ courses completed. A team of 16 — and we’re hitting our stride.
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON
Five years in, we’re just getting started.
Advancing Opportunities for Adolescents
Expanding support for youth-serving systems across the country in seven communities, supported by the Wallace Foundation.
Civic Education
Working with The Reimagined Classroom to deliver civic education training to schools across New York State for the NY State Education Department.
NYC Summer Rising
Continuing our multi-year partnership with NYC Public Schools and NYC DYCD to train teachers and community-based staff in the nation’s largest summer learning program.
AI-Powered Learning
Piloting new features to make professional development more personalized and effective for every learner, while still grounded in our human-centered content.
Celebrate with us.
The next five years start now! Join the Change Up Learning community by May 31 to access a 10% anniversary discount as we head into our boldest chapter yet. Request a quote or use the discount code “HIGHFIVE” at checkout to purchase courses for you or your team.
