Al Desetta has been an editor of Youth Communication's two teen magazines, Foster Care Youth United (now known as Represent) and New Youth Connections. He was also an instructor in Youth Communication's juvenile prison writing program. In 1991, he became the organization's first director of teacher development, working with high school teachers to help them produce better writers and student publications. Prior to working at Youth Communication, Desetta directed environmental education projects in New York City public high schools and worked as a reporter.