Leader’s Guide to The Struggle to Be Strong

Sybil Wolin, Ph.D., is a developmental psychologist and was codirector of Project Resilience from 1987 to 2000. She lives on the Chesapeake Bay with her husband.Al Desetta, M.A., was an editor at Youth Communication, a New York–based nonprofit organization that teaches writing, journalism, and leadership skills to inner-city teens, from 1985 until 2002. He is currently a freelance editor.Keith Hefner is Executive Director of Youth Communication, a New York-based nonprofit organization that teaches writing, journalism, and leadership skills to inner-city teens. He is also the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship for his work in youth development.

“The moving stories in The Struggle to Be Strong and the accompanying Leader’s Guide are very important resources for all working to improve the lives of young people. The teens’ own words stress the importance of resilience, building on inner strengths, asking tough questions, being one’s self, connecting with people who matter, taking charge, using imagination and humor, and doing the right thing. We adults should act on their valuable insights.”