nXu

nXu’s offerings include teacher trainings, a purpose-development curriculum, direct student programming in schools, and partnerships to support schools and organizations to deeply embed purpose-development programming into their program models. In addition, nXu operates out-of-school programming in the form of a fellowship program that serves as a “learning lab” to inform the rest of its trainings and curriculum.

nXu’s overall curriculum and programming, including the fellowship, are anchored around a four-phase purpose-development methodology called “The Compass” which includes the following graduate aims: (1) Build my community, by fostering a sense of belonging and a supportive community that can serve as a secure base from which to launch their purpose journeys; (2) Know myself, fostering a sense of self-awareness; (3) Expand my perspective, encouraging students to break from their comfort zone and look toward the future with a sense of openness; and (4) Take initiative, fostering a sense of agency and preparing them to take initiative to pursue their purpose. 

The nXu fellowship itself is a one-year out-of-school program that selects high school students from diverse district, charter, private, and parochial schools. The fellowship prepares 10th-graders to navigate life beyond high school with a clear sense of who they are and what they want out of life. The program takes place over 14 weekend days over the school year. Fellows gather twice a month for four-hour sessions that include engaging activities, reflections, and authentic conversations. Students taking part in the fellowship participate in an immersive retreat to initiate 10th-graders into the nXu community. Over the course of the year, nXu coaches students to know themselves, build their community, expand their perspectives, take initiative, and, ultimately, develop a sense of purpose. Fellows draft a life purpose statement bolstered by individual and group coaching as well as professional preparation through career exposure and skills training. Finally, fellows translate their life purpose statements into a life vision statement and a personal “purpose project” that addresses a meaningful need in the world.

Compass Coaches: Coaches are volunteers who lead the twice a month, four-hour sessions for fellows that immerse them in engaging activities, reflections, and authentic conversations. The students get to know multiple Coaches, ranging from college-aged students to experienced professionals. Each cohort is supported by an experienced facilitator who supports both the Coaches and the student participants.

Peer Groups: nXu’s fellowship program is intentionally diverse. While nXu has focused on serving low-income minority students, it has also intentionally included students from wealthier backgrounds because they believe that all students benefit from being a part of an intentionally diverse cohort. These cohorts engage in experiences together through the course of the year-long program. nXu has initial evidence suggesting that students are creating substantive connections beyond program days.

Session Facilitators: Every session is led by an experienced facilitator who leads each cohort of students through sessions. These facilitators also support the Compass Coaches as needed.

One-off Volunteers: Additional volunteers, based on interest and need, are pulled into the sessions as needed. They participate either face-to-face or virtually.

Unleashing community assets and connections. The first phase of the nXu curriculum prioritizes “building community.” nXu has found that many schools are structurally not set up to build meaningful connections and community across students and staff. But with the right learning experiences and right cultural setting, schools can relatively quickly start to unleash those assets.

nXu administers a post-program survey to students. Among other things, the survey tracks the quantity and quality of relationships brokered during the program, specifically with the Compass Coaches and peers. Sample questions include:

“The Compass Coaches I worked with were helpful.” (9-point Likert scale; strongly disagree to strongly agree)

“nXu has allowed me to build friendships and connections that I would not have otherwise made.” (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

“In the past 3 months, how many nXu students have you spent time with outside of school AND outside of nXu sessions?” (open response)