Too many youth in foster care spend their 21st birthday packing their bags, finding a place to live and figuring out how they are going to pay the rent and put food in the fridge.

It makes me sad to see the education of the heart -- the real core of any worthwhile English curriculum -- gutted for the sake of global competition, and to see teachers once again take the hit for "dummied down" education.

"I would like kids to understand that they can do yoga anytime, anywhere, no matter how old they are. I also hope that yoga practice empowers them physically, mentally, and emotionally to be the best version of themselves that they are capable of being at any given moment."

When I hear the phrase "students at risk," I cringe at the idea that society has labeled under-supported young people in such a way that has placed all of the responsibility on the young people.

"I was teaching yoga at the Boulder County jail. One of the women, Tracy, was in my program for nine months. Upon her release, she looked me up. She told me she wanted to become a yoga teacher. Now she's in charge of the jail program, and is creating a transition program for inmates"

Our Opportunity Index uses more than a dozen data points to rank every state and assign almost every county in America an opportunity grade ranging from "A" for excellent to "F" for failing.

Youth in general need support to be guided on a path toward becoming assets to their community. Black male youth are especially in crisis today and in dire need of such support.

A couple of years ago, I was what could be considered an at-risk youth. I say with raw honesty that had I not attended New Look all those years ago, I'm not sure that I would have realized that even back then, I needed to be a leader.

This week we celebrated the Fourth of July! A holiday we associate with fireworks, flags, picnics at the beach and our independence. So why was my first thought when I woke up on this day of frolic about teen girls in a juvenile detention center?