The Youth Worker’s Promise:

15 Commitments at the Heart of Ethical Youth Work 

by Don Carpenter

 

In Do No Harm: The Youth Worker’s Promise, Don Carpenter lays out 15 core commitments that define the heart of ethical, relationship-centered youth work. Grounded in decades of practice and lived experience, he offers a guide for those who understand that real transformation takes time and is rooted in trust, nurtured through presence, and sustained by integrity. Whether you are a new practitioner, a seasoned professional, or a community leader, this book is both a pledge and a companion, reminding us that lasting change begins not with programs, but with relationships.

About the Author

Don Carpenter is a visionary leader, author, and youth development pioneer with more than 35 years of experience at the intersection of leadership, community, and education. Known for his relational, cause-driven approach, Don believes that programs and institutions do not change lives. Relationships do. Guided by that conviction, his work has extended beyond individual organizations to shaping models, movements, and practices that place young people at the center of lasting change.

Don is the cofounder of Trekkers and the architect of the Aspirations Incubator, both nationally recognized models for long-term mentoring and community-based youth development. The six-year mentoring model he developed at Trekkers has been replicated across Maine, the United States, and internationally. He also helped cofound the Rural Youth Institute, a think tank and learning hub advancing innovation, research, and practice in rural youth development, and serves as board president of Youth Forum Maine.

Today, Don’s work focuses on walking alongside leaders as they build and sustain this work in their own communities. Through Carpenter Company Consulting, he is a sought-after consultant, relational leadership strategist, and public speaker committed to equity, sustainability, and ethical practice.

He is also the host of Meditations on Leadership, a weekly podcast exploring the inner journey of leadership through reflection and storytelling.

Don and his wife, Sheryl, divide their time between Naples, Florida, and the St. George peninsula in midcoast Maine.

$20.95