In partnership with the National AfterSchool Association, we are happy to introduce this supplemental issue. Whereby each issue of New Directions for Youth Development usually presents research on one topic, this special issue was open to article submissions that could address any topic of youth development and after-school education. Interestingly, the majority of the papers we received clustered around the topic of youth programming and offer a window into the innovations of this fast growing field of study. We welcome any feedback.