Merita Irby is an ethnographer, facilitator, and field builder who has spent three decades promoting positive youth development. She co-authored the seminal Urban Sanctuaries: Neighborhood Organizations in the Lives and Futures of Inner-City Youth (Jossey-Bass, 1994) and co-founded the Forum for Youth Investment with Karen Pittman in 1998, which they led together for nearly 25 years. Known for her ability to build and sustain cross-sector collaboration, she works with national and local leaders across education, youth development and career pathways to strengthen partnerships that are youth-centered, science-informed and equity-focused. She is currently managing partner of the Alliance for Youth Thriving, a partner at Knowledge to Power Catalysts, and strategic advisor for Youth Today.
