Dear Fresh Tracks Partners and Supporters

Sharing Cultures, Igniting Futures
LEAD PARTNERS
Dear Fresh Tracks Partners and Supporters,
We are delighted to report that the first-ever Fresh Tracks Leadership
Expedition was a tremendous success. Thanks to your support, two
cohorts of diverse young adults from Los Angeles and Alaska traveled
farther than they thought possible, met people who exposed them
to new perspectives, and discovered their full potential as leaders in
their communities. In Seattle, southern California, and Alaska, Fresh
Tracks offered once-in-a-lifetime experiences for young leaders who
have aspirations for themselves and their communities, but who are
facing persistent opportunity gaps.
RECRUITING
AND PROGRAM
PARTNERS
Together with our partners, we worked to empower the Fresh
Tracks crew with new skills around cultural competency, civic
engagement, and environmental stewardship –and each of
our participants responded in unique ways. Some found new
confidence in the outdoors. Others grew by understanding the
challenges their peers are experiencing. Still others were inspired by words of wisdom from many of our
incredible speakers, including Zumiez co-Founder Tom Campion, Seattle community leader Nate Miles,
Compton Mayor Aja Brown, and the elders from Arctic Village, Alaska.
“Fresh Tracks is helping me grow. Personally,
it’s helping me see that I can do much
more, and that I can make a change in
my community. I want to be the person
who is helping the youth. That’s going to
be me. Even if they come from an ugly
neighborhood, I want them to see that they
can make it to where they want to go – and
if they really put their dream out there and
chase it and not give up, it’s possible.”
– Stephanie Carrasco, Compton
LEAD SPONSORS
Today, we are pleased to share some of the amazing stories and outcomes from Fresh Tracks. In the
following pages, you will find the Executive Summary of the Evaluation Report, prepared by Dr. Sharoni Little
of the USC Marshall School of Business, and a white paper that details issues the participants hope to help
address through collaborative action within, and between, their communities. We are also excited to present
the Fresh Tracks video, which you can view here.
WITH ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT FROM
Thanks to your support, we have made a positive impact on two groups of young people who have returned
to their communities with full hearts and new leadership skills. But there are millions of others who are
waiting for their opportunities.
We look forward to working with all of you to make sure that happens.
With gratitude,
The Fresh Tracks Team
IslandWood, the Sierra Club,
Children & Nature Network’s Natural Leaders
The Strategist Company, LLC
Prepared by
Sharoni Little, Ph.D., Ed.D.
September 2016
FRESH TRACKS EVALUATION REPORT: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
FRESH TRACKS
Fresh Tracks Leadership Expeditions is a partnership between IslandWood, the Sierra Club,
Children & Nature Network’s Natural Leaders, REI, the Campion Foundation, action sports
retailer Zumiez, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – in close collaboration with the City of
Compton and in support of the goals of the Obama Administration’s My Brother’s Keeper
initiative. In the August 2016 pilot, which is the focus of this evaluation report, Fresh Tracks
took two cohorts of culturally diverse participants from Los Angeles and Alaska on a two-week
experience that helped the participants begin to see the world through new eyes, to appreciate
different perspectives, and to understand their own abilities to make a positive impact on their
communities.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Fresh Tracks program provided participants a cultural immersion experience centered on
fostering leadership, civic engagement, environmental stewardship and justice, and cultural
competency skills. This distinctive youth/young adult leadership development program
included a diverse array of traditional and experiential activities which allowed the participants
a first-hand understanding of their respective communities, tools to identify and confront
marginalizing and deficit perceptions, and the knowledge of their collective power to bring
about social change.
In conjunction with environmental and civic engagement activities and workshops (including a
discussion/Q&A with Compton Mayor, Aja Brown; Community leaders in Arctic Village,
Alaska; and Business leader, Tom Campion), the participants took part in an educational and
workforce development session at the USC, Marshall School of Business. Centered on
Leadership, Communication, and Cultural Competency/Implicit Bias, the lecture and
experiential exercise promoted effective team-building, trust, collaboration, and critical thinking
skills.
Using participatory action research and building on their acquired knowledge and skills,
participants researched and devised a collaborative white paper which identified vital social
issues within their respective and collective communities, resulting in a strategic action plan.
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CORE OBJECTIVES
Fresh Tracks used a distinctive program experience that blended cultural sharing, outdoor
exploration, workforce education, and service learning to promote four core outcomes:

Cultural Competence. Fresh Tracks will enable participants to thrive in an increasingly
diverse world. Participants will gain a conceptual and practical understanding of
cultural and emotional intelligence and implicit bias to live and work effectively in cross
cultural environments. They will understand and respect the viewpoints of different
cultures, share strategies for confronting cultural and environmental challenges, and
develop cultural competency, communication, and critical thinking skills necessary to
make a positive impact on their own lives, their communities, and the planet.

Civic Engagement. Fresh Tracks participants will gain the knowledge, skills, and
motivation to become active change-agents within their home communities. They will
develop problem-solving strategies and learn best practices for engaging others and
empowering community stakeholders. Participants will also gain knowledge about civic
leadership, legislative structure, and policy advocacy.

Leadership Skills. Participants will leverage community leadership experiences into
workforce and career skills through training provided by workforce education partners,
such as Compton Youth Build and university partners, including USC’s Marshall School
of Business. The program will provide participants diverse opportunities to develop
youth leadership skills, including decision-making, goal-setting, interpersonal
communication, listening, critical thinking, public speaking, and team building.

Hometown Stewardship. Environmentally, participants will gain a sense of belonging,
an understanding of caretaking and conservation, and the importance of environmental
mapping within their communities. With greater awareness of community challenges
and the skills to solve them, Fresh Tracks participants will take action to address social
and environmental justice issues facing urban and rural populations.
EVALUATION
The evaluation foci, informed by a comprehensive logic model, included: Program strategy,
design, implementation, and overall effectiveness. More specifically, the process and outcome
evaluation aimed to address the following questions:
1. What is the Fresh Tracks program and how is it a distinctive youth/young adult
leadership development program?
2. How was the Fresh Tracks program implemented?
3. How effective was Fresh Tracks in achieving its four stated objectives around: Cultural
Competency, Civic Engagement, Hometown/Environmental Stewardship, and
Leadership skills?
4. What participant knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavioral outcomes were achieved?
5. How, if at all, can this distinctive model be applied in other communities?
METHODOLOGY
Fresh Tracks evaluation included both a formative and summative component utilizing
qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The primary quantitative measures included: A)
An evidence-based pre-post instrument designed using validated items from disparate
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leadership, interpersonal, civic engagement, cultural competency, and environmental
stewardship studies (Furco, A., Muller, P., and Ammon, M. (1998). Civic Responsibility Survey
for K-12 Students Engaged in Service-Learning. Service-Learning Research and Development
Center, University of California, Berkeley; Flanagan, Syversten, and Stout. (2007). Competence
for Civic Action (Tapping Adolescents' Civic Engagement); Bautista, Bertrand, Morrell, Scorza &
Corey Matthews, 2013, Participatory Action Research and City Youth: Methodological Insights
from the Council of Youth Research). B) Additional pre-post surveys were administered to
assess self-esteem using both the Rosenberg (1965) and Heatherton and Polivy (1991)
instruments. C) A post-program instrument was devised using key process and outcomes
indicators to assess program design, implementation, fidelity, and overall effectiveness, as well
as participant knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors around intended program objectives.
Qualitative methods included participant focus groups, interviews, and written reflections
gathered throughout the program.
KEY FINDINGS
The data collected demonstrated that this program showed increased participant knowledge
and skills around key objectives, especially civic engagement, cultural competency,
interpersonal leadership and communication, and environmental stewardship and justice.
Participants also showed growth in their value of self and community, confidence in their
abilities to serve as community advocates and change agents, and the cultivation of critical
cultural competency, collaboration, and communication skills needed to achieve social justice
and equity for themselves, and others. Key survey results (percentages) were tallied combining
“Agree,” and “Strongly Agree” responses as shown in Table 1:
Table 1: Summary Results of Administered Surveys
Outcome
Cultural Competency
Civic Engagement and
Community Advocacy
Leadership, Interpersonal
Communication, and Teamwork
Skills
Environmental Stewardship
Description
I can articulate my personal values
I can effectively participate in cross-cultural
environments to create change
I have a strong sense of my own identity, apart
from, and in relation to, others
I have the knowledge and ability to seek out
resources in my community
I understand the concept of power dynamics as
it relates to civic engagement
I work towards building peace, justice, and
equity in my community
I am a community advocate
I am a role model for others
Pre
79%
65%
Post
100%
92%
79%
92%
85%
100%
57%
92%
79%
100%
72%
79%
92%
92%
I can share power and delegate tasks
I actively listen to others
I work well with a team
I can motivate others
It is important to protect and conserve the
environment
72%
86%
72%
79%
93%
92%
100%
100%
92%
100%
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Additionally, significant outcome themes emerged from qualitative data gathered from
participant surveys, interviews, and focus groups:







Opportunity to experience/learn about other cultures
Leadership is about listening and helping
Opportunity to come out of “comfort zone” and gain confidence
Importance of networking and the value of meeting others
Favorite moments and activities centered around outdoors (hiking/beach)
Common desire to come back next year as leaders
Love for mentors
IMPLICATIONS
The Fresh Tracks distinctive leadership development program resulted in positive participant
and program outcomes. As supported by key, triangulated evaluation findings, Fresh Tracks
achieved its intended objectives, and laid the foundation for continued participant growth and
development:
Cultural Competence: Participants gained a conceptual and practical understanding of cultural
and emotional intelligence and implicit bias to lead and thrive in an increasingly diverse world.
Civic Engagement: Through an enriched sense of cultural identity, participants gained the
knowledge, skills, and motivation to become active change-agents within their communities.
They developed problem-solving and advocacy strategies for engaging others and empowering
community stakeholders, particularly through their collaborative White Paper.
Leadership Skills: Through disparate leadership trainings and experiential exercises, participants
developed vital leadership skills, including decision-making, goal-setting, interpersonal
communication, listening, critical thinking, public speaking, and team building.
Hometown Stewardship/Environmental Justice: With greater awareness and a first-hand
perspective of a myriad of community challenges, Fresh Tracks participants gained essential
tools and skills to confront social and environmental justice issues facing urban and rural
populations, and gained an increased commitment to conservation.
The Fresh Tracks program strategy and design, coupled with post-Fresh Tracks efforts
(consisting of peer and adult mentoring, community advocacy and action-research, workforce
and leadership opportunities, service learning, and environmental stewardship) will build upon
participant’s gained knowledge, skills, and abilities resulting in a more informed, engaged, and
empowered cadre of community leaders.
The Fresh Tracks leadership program model could effectively be adapted to similar urban and
rural communities by incorporating and leveraging the distinctive cultural immersion
experience along with strategic post-programming, and place-based adaptations.
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Sharing Cultures, Igniting Futures
Fresh Eyes on Cross-Cultural Challenges:
A Call to Action by Youth Leaders
from Los Angeles and Alaska
Introduction
In August 2016, twelve young adults from Los Angeles and Alaska took part in a two-week leadership experience that
allowed them to explore new cultures and develop deeper understandings of the issues facing their communities and
the communities they visited. Near the conclusion of the experience, the participants, using a youth participatory action
research model, identified issues they wanted to help address through collaborative, youth-driven action. This report is
a summary of the actionable solutions proposed by the Fresh Tracks participants.
“Unlike traditional research, which grants authority solely to academics to generate new information, it
carves a space for community members to share experiential knowledge, conduct research on their own
experiences, and act as agents of change in issues that impact them directly. PAR is participant‐based
research and focuses uniquely on issues that affect particular communities using a methodological
approach in which participants become the knowledge producers. The participants, as researchers, co‐
create a research agenda that characterizes the nature of the problem according to their lived experiences
and in turn, outline alternatives to address the problem.”
(Bautista, Bertrand, Morrell, Scorza & Corey Matthews, 2013)
Key Outcomes: Cultural Competency and Civic Engagement
The Fresh Tracks experience integrated elements of experiential learning, cultural sharing, outdoor exploration,
workforce education, and civic engagement. Along with workforce education and environmental stewardship, two of the key outcomes were civic engagement and cultural competency.
•Cultural Competency. Participants gained a conceptual and practical understanding of
cultural and emotional intelligence and implicit bias to live and work effectively in cross cultural
environments; to respect the viewpoints of different cultures; to share strategies for confronting
cultural and environmental challenges; and to develop cultural competency skills necessary to
make a positive impact on their own lives, their communities, and the planet.
•Civic Engagement. Fresh Tracks participants gained the knowledge, skills, and motivation to
become active change-agents within their home communities; developed problem-solving
strategies and learned best practices for engaging others and empowering community
stakeholders; and gained knowledge about civic leadership, legislative structure, and policy advocacy.
Sharing Cultures, Igniting Futures
Engaging Emerging Citizens
Fresh Tracks was designed to help participants gain the knowledge, skills, and motivation to become active changeagents within their home communities, and to develop problem-solving strategies and learn best practices for engaging
others. The participants reached several key conclusions that point to the growth in their understanding of challenges
in their communities and what they can do to help solve pressing social issues.
-Our cultures are more complex and have more in common than we expected
-Our communities face many similar social and environmental challenges
-We can help address these challenges by increasing awareness, engagement, and collaboration among youth within – and across – our communities
The third and final conclusion noted here is foundational to the strategies the Fresh Tracks participants identified to address social and environmental issues facing their communities.
Summary of Key Issues Facing Communities in Los Angeles and Alaska
COMMUNITY CHALLENGES
Climate Change/Food Deserts
Gang and Community Violence
Poverty and Homelessness
Substance Abuse
Suicide
Unemployment
Native Language Loss
Domestic Abuse
GENERAL STRATEGIES
Phone Banking
Social Media
Community Meetings
Media Outreach
Writing Letters
Engaging Older Generations
Cultural Pride
Cross-Cultural Collaboration
“One challenge that the Alaska community is facing is definitely climate change. One way that I think our
community can address these problems is through education, definitely starting with the young ones so
that they know what’s happening and that they can make a change.”
– Vaitupu Rachael Lima, Anchorage
A Call to Action
The Fresh Tracks participants identified actionable solutions for each issue area above. For example, they proposed
reducing suicide rates through improved access to mental health facilities and more training to help youth recognize
warning signs in others, and suggested addressing environmental challenges through outdoor engagement and
awareness campaigns about the impact of oil development in Alaska. Across all issue areas, one overarching theme
emerged that can be seen as an immediate call to action by the participants: Increased civic engagement among other
youth within and between communities.
Sharing Cultures, Igniting Futures
“It Starts with Youth!”
The participants recognize that too few people their age are active citizens. Young adults in Los Angeles and Alaska vote
in low numbers and – while they may care about social and environmental issues – they see a lack of opportunities to
contribute to positive social change. The Fresh Tracks participants identified specific strategies to increase engagement
among their peers – including social media campaigns, community organizing and outreach, and writing to media and
elected officials.
Not All Ice, Not All Hollywood
Fresh Tracks helped dispel common assumptions about Los Angeles and Alaska and allowed participants to recognize
the potential power of collaboration. The Alaska participants saw visiting the Arctic as a way to spread awareness
of environmental challenges in Alaska while the Los Angeles participants helped their counterparts see that popular
culture often glorifies serious issues, like gang violence and drug abuse. By serving as ambassadors and advocates for
their communities, the participants effectively created new champions for their causes.
“When I got there [Alaska] I thought it was going to be ice everywhere and igloos here and there because
I didn’t know. When I got there and I saw the industry and I saw all of the community, it was so much
different than I thought it was going to be. We’re far away. We still have the same ideals. Positivity and
passion, that’s a common trait in both cities.”
- Jared Savage, Compton
Conclusion
Fresh Tracks Leadership Expeditions was designed to help participants develop skills around cultural competency,
civic engagement, and environmental stewardship. The opportunity at the end of Fresh Tracks to reflect on social
and environmental challenges present in each community led to an action-oriented discussion about how young
leaders could work together to create positive social change. The participants were able to see themselves (and
others) as parts of the solutions to issues in their home communities and in other communities. Whether the topic
was gang violence, climate change, substance abuse, domestic violence, or lack of access to social services, they found
consensus around a key strategy – increasing civic engagement among their peers within and between communities –
an outcome that can be facilitated through ongoing mentorship for the Fresh Tracks participants.
Fresh Tracks Leadership Expeditions
Inspired by President Obama’s commitment to connecting more young Americans to the Outdoors, Fresh Tracks is
a partnership between IslandWood, the Sierra Club, Children & Nature Network’s Natural Leaders, REI, the Campion
Foundation, action sports retailer Zumiez, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – in close collaboration with the City of
Compton and in support of the goals of the Obama Administration’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative. In the August pilot,
Fresh Tracks took two cohorts of culturally diverse participants from Los Angeles and Alaska on a two-week experience
that helped the participants begin to see the world through new eyes, to appreciate different perspectives, and to
understand their own abilities to make a positive impact on their communities. The August experience is now being
looked at as a model for expansion to regions across the country