White House launches initiative to train, support youth

Posted by on January 29, 2012

White House launches initiative to train, support youth

The White House Council for Community Solutions and a coalition of nonprofit and private-sector partners have announced the launch of a hundred-day initiative to encourage Americans to go “All In” for disconnected youth.

According to The Economic Value of Opportunity Youth, a report released by the council in partnership, at least one in six young adults is out of school and unemployed.

http://www.serve.gov/new-images/council/pdf/econ_value_opportunity_youth.pdf

To encourage communities, businesses, nonprofits, and local governments to provide these “Opportunity Youth” with critically needed mentoring and support, the coalition has created a number of toolkits, including the Community Collaboratives Toolbox (http://www.serve.gov/new-images/council/pdf/CommunityCollaborativeToolkit_all%20_materials.pdf), which highlights efforts to tackle issues such as violence and low graduation rates; and the Connecting Youth & Business Toolkit (http://www.serve.gov/new-images/council/pdf/youth_employment_toolkit.pdf), which offers employers guidance on engaging youth through mentoring, job-shadowing, and internships and permanent positions.

In addition, United Way Worldwide will host a series of “Community Conversations” with local United Ways in thirty cities and regions to foster collaboration between local organizations and businesses interested in providing the education, training, and social supports young adults need for long-term employment success.