DC Youth and Young Adult Update 04-18-2025

By NYEC | April 17, 2025

 

 

News at NYEC:  

  • Join the National Youth Employment Coalition’s 2025 Annual Forum- Empowering Youth, Transforming Communities, in Minneapolis, MN, from May 12-14, 2025! This event will gather practitioners, youth advocates, and community leaders to explore key topics like youth leadership, holistic supports, living wage employment, and policy & advocacy.  
  • Fill out a 6-month Federal Advocacy Calendar! Interested in being more engaged in federal advocacy? The hyperlinked title will direct you to a JotForm that lists concrete steps that you can take in the first 6 months of the year to build a relationship with your Members of Congress! NYEC will make it easy to complete each goal of every month by sharing support, reminders, and more!  

Legislative Branch:  

  • Reps. McBath and Mrvan Introduce Bipartisan Workforce Development Bill with Senators Reed and Young: Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-6), Rep. Frank Mrvan (IN-1), Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) re-introduced the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success (WORKS) Act. This bipartisan bill would support American workers and expand economic opportunity and mobility for millions by investing in adult education. Large portions of this bill have previously been incorporated in the bipartisan agreement to update the federal workforce system, known as the Stronger Workforce for America Act. 
  • Senator Hirono Introduces S.1448: U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced S.1448, a bill to address mental health issues for youth, particularly youth of color. The full bill text has not yet been released.  
  • Rep. Harder Introduces H.R.2910: Representative Josh Harder (CA-09) introduced H.R.2910 to establish a competitive grant program to support out-of-school-time youth workforce readiness programs, providing employability skills development, career exploration, employment readiness training, mentoring, work-based learning, and workforce opportunities for eligible youth. The full bill text has not yet been released. 

Executive Branch:  

Federal Funding Opportunities with upcoming deadlines: 

No new federal funding opportunities 

Previously Shared  

  • USDA Grant: Community Connect Grant Program: The Community Connect Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) to all premises in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service (10 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up) does not exist. Applications due April 21, 2025. 

From The States 

  • Virginia: Groundwork Richmond’s youth program is ending after losing federal funding, according to former workforce director Sarah Calderon, who resigned as a result. Calderon stated that a federal order cancelled USDA funding (sourced from the Inflation Reduction Act and distributed via CalFire), impacting 22 grantees, including Groundwork Richmond’s Workforce Development Program. She noted this followed previous funding losses under the Trump Administration. The program’s last class graduated on March 26th. 
  • Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is allocating $5 million through its Industry Partnership grant program to bolster workforce development, including initiatives in the Midstate. The department indicated these funds are intended to equip workers for family-sustaining employment and enhance workforce projects. 

For The Youth: 

  •  Children’s Aid’s Job Readiness Workshops: Engaging in meaningful work experiences as a youth leads to enhanced career opportunities later in life. Adolescents have access to a range of workforce options that can align with their academic interests and professional ambitions. To prepare for the job market, young people can participate in interactive training and workshops, build resumes that emphasize their strengths, and explore various roles to discover work they find genuinely engaging. 
  • Passport To Success: Learn essential life skills and explore careers in growth industries through Passport to Success® Traveler, a virtual global journey. Developed by the International Youth Foundation with support from The PepsiCo Foundation, this mobile-friendly course helps young people aged 16-24 build work readiness skills like time management, problem-solving, and self-confidence. A key goal of PTS Traveler is to equip 1 million young women with skills crucial for workplace success.  

Resources 

  • American Library Association’s Youth Workforce Readiness Webinar: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the path to workforce readiness for young adults, creating unique challenges and opportunities. Unlike in the past when many pursued part-time work and skill development for college or careers, today’s youth often face urgent needs like contributing to household expenses, caring for siblings, or lacking internet access, causing them to fall behind. How can libraries address these evolving needs? An on-demand webinar, the fifth in the Public Libraries: Partners in Workforce Development series, delves into this, showcasing library programs (both formal and informal) that equip youth with essential skills and experiences—including work-based learning and apprenticeships—to succeed in their chosen paths. 
  • Building a Better Team: Best Practices and Practical Applications for Addressing Staffing Challenges: Staffing in the out-of-school time sector is tougher than ever, but solutions exist. The U.S. Department of Education’s You for Youth (Y4Y) team offers guidance on overcoming these challenges through better planning and program adjustments. Join them to review best practices and tools for staffing plans, recruitment, onboarding, and professional development aimed at attracting and retaining top talent. They will examine case studies together to improve program effectiveness based on real-world examples.
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