NYEC Participates in Frameworks Listening Session

Members of NYEC’s Board of Directors, Youth Advisory Council, and staff participated in a listening session organized by FrameWorks Institute, a nonprofit research institution, on July 6th. FrameWorks staff asked open-ended questions about how to better support Opportunity Youth and dispel false narratives regarding OY and other young people. NYEC participants described the need to counter narrative trends that describe Opportunity Youth as lazy and unmotivated. Additionally, young people today need caring adults – not only mentors, but “champions” who will do everything they can to help them pursue their dreams. Some Opportunity Youth, and Gen-Z Youth more generally, have postponed higher education and traditional employment in favor of entrepreneurial activities, such as content creation.

Participants largely placed the onus on employers to understand how to recruit young people and engage them in the workplace, and on communities and politicians to address the root causes of youth disconnection. Too often the focus on “Black butterflies” – BIPOC young people who have triumphed in spite of their circumstances – diverts attention from who is really responsible for the challenges that young people face.