Clare Eisenberg, M.Ed.
Consultant
I was a youth worker as a young person myself, working at a summer day camp where I taught art and photography to younger people.
In high school, I had formative experiences through a program called Project Success, an organization that empowers young people to connect to their purpose and turn their dreams into action. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was experiencing really well-executed youth development programming that incorporated youth voice, agency, fun, and growth - and those ideas stuck with me, even before I had the language to describe them that way.
I received my B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology from Lewis & Clark College, where I focused on building my qualitative research skills and conducted multiple qualitative research projects, which took me across campus (where I explored the ways in which the student cooperative organization experienced autonomy from the school) and across the globe (where I explored the ecotourism industry in Yunnan, China). During this time, I also served as a leader for a social justice programming board at Lewis & Clark.
I have worked with multiple youth development programs, including an in-school academic tutoring program for middle school youth, a college access program for high school students across the country, and an out-of-school-time program that blends math, social-emotional learning, and sports. I have also worked in nonprofit fundraising and communications.
After working in youth development for a few years, I returned to school for my M.Ed. in Youth Development Leadership from the University of Minnesota. My studies focused on youth voice and leadership, which involved designing, facilitating, and evaluating a youth advisory council within an out-of-school-time program. In graduate school, I learned as much from my professors as I did from my close-knit cohort and the youth I worked with. Critical theory and social justice deeply influenced my graduate school experience.
Shortly after finishing at the University of Minnesota, I joined Search Institute as a qualitative researcher. At Search, I contributed to a wide range of research, evaluation, and program/product development projects for youth- and family-serving organizations.
Now, I synthesize all this experience into my consulting practice, working with organizations to learn from experience, share stories, and continuously improve. I can’t wait to hear your story!