NYEC News Letter 03-13-2025
NYEC Policy Highlights
NYEC has been active on Capitol Hill this February:
We met with the offices of Rep. Casten (IL-06), Rep. McIver (NJ-10), Rep. Perez (WA-03), Rep. Brecheen (OK-02), Rep. Garcia (IL-04), Rep. Jacobs (CA-51), Rep. Harder (CA-09), Sen. Sheehy (R-MT), Sen. Peters (D-MI), Sen. Smith (D-MN), and Sen. Heinrich (D-NM) to discuss WIOA reauthorization, appropriations, and the Bipartisan Opportunity Youth Caucus! We heard a strong, bipartisan sentiment that Congressional staff want to hear from YOU! If you are interested in meeting with your members of Congress to advocate for your organization and opportunity youth, the NYEC is here to help connect you. Contact our Policy Coordinator, Lindsey Smith ([email protected]), for assistance setting up a meeting, prepping for the meeting, and attending the meeting with you upon request.
NYEC Initiatives
Buffalo and Albany: Activating the Agency of Youth Through Collaboration
Buffalo and Albany: Activating the Agency of Youth Through Collaboration: This month we’d like to highlight the ongoing collaboration between Buffalo and Albany as part of the Youth Champion Communities (YCC) initiative, funded through the Walmart Foundation. Both cities are working with community partners, youth-serving organizations, and local leaders to activate the agency of young people by connecting them to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
In Albany, the focus is on leveraging workforce development resources and expanding access to educational opportunities for young people. Buffalo is equally committed, focusing on building networks that connect youth to resources, skills, and experiences that will help them succeed in the workforce.
This collaborative effort has been in progress for several months, making significant strides in breaking down silos and ensuring that all youth have access to the resources they need. The initiative is critical for creating a sustainable support system where the community’s assets are fully activated for the benefit of young people. By building these collective networks, the project is creating lasting, positive change, activating the potential of youth to shape their own futures.
This month we’d like to highlight the ongoing collaboration between Buffalo and Albany as part of the Youth Champion Communities (YCC) initiative, funded through the Walmart Foundation. Both cities are working with community partners, youth-serving organizations, and local leaders to activate the agency of young people by connecting them to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Apprenticeship Building America (ABA2)
Exciting Updates on ABA2 & NYEC’s Care Economy Pre Apprenticeship – The Apprenticeship Building America (ABA2) grant is expanding care economy pre-apprenticeships nationwide, creating new pathways for young people and service providers to enter high-demand fields. As part of this initiative, NYEC is developing a mental health pre-apprenticeship curriculum, alongside FHI 360’s Youth Development Practitioner Apprenticeship (YDPA), Peer Support Specialist Apprenticeship, and Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Counselor Apprenticeship, in collaboration with the National Institute for Work and Learning (NIWL). We are in the final stages of development and preparing for an official launch with FHI 360. Stay tuned for more details on how young people, workforce boards, youth organizations, and employers can get involved.
For more information on ABA2 click here.
For questions about FHI360, please contact Anne Brogden
Youth Housing and Employment Strategic Planning Initiative
The National Youth Employment Coalition continues with another strong year of supporting communities through its youth housing and employment strategic planning initiative. Throughout 2024, NYEC worked with a total of nine communities (Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Detroit, MI; Delco, NC; Indianapolis, IN; Jackson, MS; Knoxville, TN; Madison, WI; and Riverside, CA).
Our first meeting of 2025 focused on convening partners across participating cities to learn from one another. Robust conversation included dialogue centered on sharing best practices for the implementation of Youth Housing Demonstration Programs (YHDP), strengthening partnerships between housing and workforce, and effectively identifying and supporting young people experiencing homelessness.
Our second session delved into detailing each community’s strategic plan. By developing SMART goals designed to advance each city’s support of young people experiencing housing instability/homelessness, our hope is that we see a decrease in number—and in increase in support—as it relates to young people experiencing homelessness.
Please click here for access to an additional resource, Building a Homelessness Prevention System: A Toolkit for Launching, Operating, and Managing an Evidence-Based Program, developed by Results for America.