September Newsletter
What’s Happening at NYEC: September 2026
This Month We recognize
National Workforce Development Month
September is National Workforce Development Month, a time to recognize the people, organizations, and communities working to ensure young people have access to meaningful opportunities, good careers, and the support they need to build economic mobility.
Workforce development is about more than preparing someone for a job. It means creating pathways where young people can explore their interests, build skills, connect with employers and mentors, and find work that offers stability, purpose, opportunity, and room to grow.
Suicide Prevention Month
September is also Suicide Prevention Month, an opportunity to strengthen the connections and supports that are deeply needed to safeguard young people; often those who are most vulnerable.
NYEC’s 2024 Mental Heath Policy Recommendations share actional strategies at the federal level. Below includes additional individual resources.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Includes crisis help line, support groups, advocacy campaigns, and resource library
- Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) Training – suicide prevention training for individuals and group organizations
- SAMSHA Best Practice Registry – SAMSHA provides resources, toolkits, and training. Amongst these is the SMSHA Best Practice Registry or BPR which includes a list of trainings pre-screened for effectiveness in suicide prevention.
2027 Annual Forum Save the Date: We are thrilled to announce that our 2027 Annual Forum: Dare to Dream will take place April 12-14, 2027 in Cleveland, Ohio.
This year’s Forum will explore the ideas, innovations, and partnerships that are shaping the future of youth workforce development—from creative approaches to funding and whole-person support to community partnerships, policy and advocacy, purpose-driven opportunities, and year-round pathways to employment.
Dare to Dream is an invitation to imagine what’s possible for young people, and to have the courage to build it. It’s about showcasing organizations and people innovating, implementing change, and tracking performance that makes these outcomes possible.
Local Spotlight: We are so excited for our attendees to explore the vibrant waterfront, nationally recognized museums (like the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame!), major league sports, diverse neighborhoods, and innovative workforce partnerships, all in a walkable, affordable downtown where conference attendees can maximize both learning and networking. Stay tuned for more information; ticket sales & call for workshops will launch soon!
Join NYEC’s 2nd cohort of the Youth Development Practitioner Apprenticeship, starting mid-October 2026!
NYEC is strengthening the capacity of the youth workforce through its Youth Development Practitioner Apprenticeship (YDPA), a nine-month training program designed to equip professionals who work directly with young people with the skills and knowledge needed to provide more effective, high-quality support.
The current YDPA cohort brings together practitioners from across the country, including Texas, Minnesota, and Florida, creating a diverse learning community where participants can share practices, experiences, and strategies for supporting young people across different communities and workforce systems. By investing in the professionals who serve young people, YDPA creates an opportunity for capacity-building to extend beyond individual participants and into the organizations and communities where they work.
Apprentices have completed the first two modules of the nine-month program and are currently developing strategies to help young people strengthen the soft skills and workplace competencies needed to obtain and sustain high-wage employment. The training emphasizes practical application, enabling practitioners to translate what they learn into their day-to-day work with young people and strengthen the quality of employment preparation and support they provide.
NYEC is launching the second cohort of its YDPA in mid-October 2026 in partnership with FHI 360’s Institute for Work and Learning! This Registered Apprenticeship provides a structured opportunity for staff to build the knowledge and skills needed to effectively support young people while earning a nationally recognized credential; organizations employing apprentice(s) receive a one-time $2300 stipend.
By strengthening practitioner capacity, the program has the potential to create a multiplier effect. Interested in participating in the upcoming cohort? Sign-up HERE, or email mo.burke@nyec.org to learn more.
Employer Engagement Insights Are Employers Seeing the Talent in Your Community?
Community-based organizations know something many employers don’t: where motivated young talent can be found.
Every day, practitioners work with young people who are building skills, gaining experience, and preparing to contribute in the workplace. Yet employers may never see this talent if they rely primarily on traditional recruiting channels, credentials, and previous work experience.
That gives community-based organizations an important role—not simply connecting young people to available jobs, but helping employers see the young people in their communities as part of their talent strategy.
These are exactly the conversations NYEC wants to elevate.
On September 30, NYEC will launch our employer-led Business Roundtable Series with a discussion on Identifying and Recruiting Untapped, Motivated Young Talent. The series will create a space for employers to share what they are experiencing, what is working, and how they are building stronger pathways for young people into their workforce. NYEC will use those insights to help strengthen connections between employers and the organizations preparing young people for careers.
Help us identify the employers who are getting this right.
Do you partner with an employer that sees the value and potential of young talent? Is there a company in your community actively recruiting, developing, supporting, or advancing young people?
We want them at the table. Send your employer recommendations to Marie Davis at marie.david@nyec.org or fill out the below form. We’ll invite them to participate in an upcoming NYEC Business Roundtable discussion.
Recommend and Employer Champion!
Stay Connected: Join NYEC!
Join the National Youth Employment Coalition to access member-exclusive policy updates, resources, learning opportunities, and a national network advancing pathways to education, employment, and economic opportunity for young people. Join NYEC today!