NYEC Youth Champion Communities: Mayors Challenge Phase 2 Milestones

NYEC is proud to share the major milestones of our Youth Champion Communities: Mayors Challenge Initiative. Over the past year, this initiative brought together seven cities, Albany, Buffalo, Durham, Everett, Richmond, Scranton, and Tampa, to rethink how communities support young people in accessing education, employment, and opportunity.

The significance of this work is evident in the breadth of its reach. Across the initiative, 393 organizations and 155 employers were engaged to align resources, strengthen local ecosystems, and expand pathways that connect young people to education, employment, and long-term opportunity.

With NYEC’s support, the communities initiated 41 new partnerships that connected government, workforce, education, justice, and nonprofit sectors — extending collaboration beyond traditional networks and bringing new stakeholders to the table who had not previously worked together to support young people.

Together, these partners identified and mapped 1,726 resources spanning employment, housing, healthcare, education, and community supports, giving cities a clear picture of where gaps exist and how to respond.

Building on the foundation of their asset maps and community assessments, communities developed 129 strategic goals within their plans and launched 25 new programs, ranging from employer engagement pilots to new opportunity youth centers. These efforts are already reshaping local systems and laying the groundwork for reducing youth disconnection, expanding pathways to living-wage careers, and ensuring young people facing barriers receive the supports they need to thrive in their personal and professional lives.