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"Whenever we look
upon this earth, the opportunities
take shape
within the problems."
-Nelson A. Rockefeller

Innovation is a process that can be learned and put into practice to create lasting change. We partner with select, like-minded organizations that share a common vision
of increasing human potential.

To initiate and sustain innovation, we create educational materials and training programs customized for specific learners and contexts. Much of our earlier work focused on developing materials for formal classroom settings; our current work centers on designing non-formal learning programs implemented through communities and other service organizations, increasing access to good ideas.

Though every program is unique, our knowledge about social entrepreneurship, business, education, technology, and economic development is embedded within the core of each program. Learning increases when people learn how to make a difference in their own communities. Our programs help community members turn perennial challenges into lasting opportunities for change. Our own program, Local Agenda, helps turn community knowledge and ideas into real solutions.

We choose powerful partners to collaborate with who share our goals, expanding our reach by bringing innovative resources to local communities around the globe. One example features the Girl Scouts of the USA and Springboard Innovation teaming up to increase the capacity of teen girls.

Challenge and Change: Challenge Yourself, Change the World - The Girl Scouts of the USA partnered with us to develop a national leadership program for teen girls in rural communities across the United States. Currently in the fourth year, Challenge and Change is strengthening rural communities through youth-led entrepreneurial projects. The program is changing the relationships between teen girls and their communities. Learn more about Challenge and Change: Challenge Yourself, Change the World.

We develop curriculum, training programs, and professional development to enhance learning for youth and adults in both formal classroom settings and non-formal learning environments. Our programs build on research-based learning strategies and often integrate appropriate Web-based technologies. Projects that focus on classroom facilitated learning include:

The New Heroes – Oregon Public Broadcasting asked us to develop educational resources to support The New Heroes documentary series, supported by the Skoll Foundation, to showcase the work of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. These learning materials can be found on the PBS Web site.

Students Helping Students - Room to Read, a nonprofit that builds schools, libraries, and computer centers in the world’s most under-served countries, contracted with us to develop educational content for an ambitious new initiative. Students Helping Students encourages young people to make a difference in the world by helping to spread the gift of literacy.

Focus on Effectiveness - The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory contracted with LITC early on to leverage our curriculum writing and program development skills, to develop the content for a major new Web site resource for educators, combining research-based educational strategies with technology and focused on serving high-poverty schools. The site is available free to anyone with Web access.