Susan Ragsdale and Ann Saylor are nationally recognized trainers, speakers, authors and consultants in the youth and community development field. As co-founders of the Center for Asset Development at the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, they have coached and trained numerous youth-serving agencies and schools on developing and empowering youth leaders, team building, service-learning, program strategies, and youth development best practices.  They have published three books together – Building Character from the Start: 201  Activities to Foster Creativity, Literacy, and Play in K-3,  “Great Group Games:  175 Boredom-Busting, Zero-Prep Team Builders for All Ages” and “Ready to Go Service Projects: 140 Ways for Youth Groups to Lend a Hand”.  They have a passion for empowering youth to succeed and sustaining professionals in the youth development field.

Susan Ragsdale has been doing youth and community development work with the YMCA of Middle Tennessee since 1992.  Her work includes a variety of teen leadership and inner-city outreach programs, both locally and nationally with the YMCA of USA, ranging from directing a regional youth environmental service-learning program to helping coach the “Bulldawgs” inner-city team.  Susan lives in Nashville with her husband Pete and their two dogs.

 

Ann Saylor has developed and directed service-learning programs for multiple organizations since 1994, including Points of Light Foundation, Tennessee 4-H, Volunteer Tennessee and Harpeth Hall School.  She has published more than 150 articles about youth leadership, service-learning, developmental assets and personal balance as well as putting her theories to work both in the classroom and in the community.  Ann and her husband Dan have 3 children in middle Tennessee.