Author Archive for: CaitlinK
Entries by Caitlin K
Is it Time for a Youth Opportunity Guarantee?
By Adam Strong and Shawnice Jackson Should our nation have an “opportunity guarantee” of education, training, and employment for all young adults? How can we as a nation truly achieve equity without a framework — and what could this framework look like? What do young adults need to be successful in high school and beyond? […]
Think Make Live Hosts 4th Annual Civic Engagement Forum
It’s important to actively confront an American culture that continues to disproportionately and systemically punish black and brown people across the country – from incarceration to portrayal in the media, and treatment at school. At last month’s 4th Annual Civic Engagement Forum on Ending The School To Prison Pipeline, hosted by Think Make Live Youth […]
Opportunity Youth Need Support to Be Next Youth Workers, Advocates
By Kisha Bird This column was written for Youth Today, the national news source for youth-service professionals, including child welfare and juvenile justice, youth development and out-of-school-time programming. “Here I was figuring out how to connect to resources. I was helping opportunity youth but didn’t do that for myself. I’m on a national stage and at […]
Members of the Reconnecting Youth Campaign Meet with Senators to Urge Investment in Pathways to Opportunity
By Maharddhika In its second year, the Reconnecting Youth Campaign has set a bold goal: build on the success of its inaugural year, which saw a $195 million increase in Congressional funds to programs that provide pathways to school, work and job training for Opportunity Youth. This year’s goal is to secure enough federal funding […]
“We’re All Human.” Here’s How to Remember that When Meeting with Elected Officials
By Adam Strong The first time I met with a high-level policymaker, I was so nervous my neck actually went stiff. It was 2012, and I was meeting with then-Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, together with some of my fellow members of the OYUnited’s National Council of Young Leaders. For a moment, I was afraid […]
Your Guide to Navigating Professional Spaces as a Young Adult
By Amanda Shabowich The first the first professional conference I ever attended was a totally new experience for me. I was 21 and I had never really traveled without my family or friends. I had definitely never been anywhere like Aspen, Colorado, and I had never presented anything about my work outside of my […]
How I Carried on My Grandfather’s Legacy by Meeting with Rep. John Lewis
By Shanice Turner Staffers entered the office buzzing and brimming with anticipation. The seating area was filled with people awaiting their meetings with Congressman John Lewis (D), the representative for the 5th Congressional District in Atlanta, Georgia, who’s known for being one of the most famous and courageous people within the Civil Rights Movement. Daniel […]
Making Hill Visits Count for the Reconnecting Youth Campaign
by Shawnice Jackson, OYUnited National Council Member The Reconnecting Youth Campaign kicked off its 2019 advocacy efforts with a winter convening that brought the diverse coalition of youth practitioners, youth leaders, funders, advocates, program staff and directors together in Washington, DC. Everyone in the room was there because we believe in the potential of Opportunity […]
Under the Radar, a New Generation of Community Leaders are Launching Nonprofits
By David Abromowitz A new generation of founders and leaders of community-based organizations is emerging. This cohort of former “opportunity youth” — young adults ages 16–24 from low-income communities who left school early and were not in the workforce — are building on their own experiences and channeling their energies into innovative approaches to uplift their communities. Take Terry […]
