Economic justice equals economic prosperity
July 30, 2012 Leave a commentWe have had the privilege of working with Year Up since 2008, when they launched a diversity and inclusion process. That learning journey has built a broad-based understanding and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as central to achieving Year Up’s mission of bridging and closing the “opportunity divide” that prevents so many urban young people from connecting to educational and economic opportunities.
Year Up makes a compelling case that “economic justice for young adults equals economic prosperity for U.S. businesses, and the nation at large.” And, while the core of the program focuses on building young people’s knowledge, skills and social capital, they also engage in efforts to change the policy and systems landscape that keeps the opportunity divide in place.
You can read more about the young people of Year Up and how founder and CEO Gerald Chertavian’s experience as a Big Brother inspired the creation of the organization in the newly released book, A Year Up: How a pioneering program teaches young adults real skills for real jobs with real success. Congratulations on the book, which has already made the New York Times Best Seller list and keep up the good work!