From school shootings to Oprah and even Netflix, we are hearing more and more about the importance of a trauma framework when working with young people. Shifting to this approach is not a one-and-done initiative. It’s a continual process, even for organizations that made the commitment long before it was a trending topic. Hopeworks ‘N…

The City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) was one of three cities awarded a grant from the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOL-ETA) awarded grant for “The Compass Rose Collaborative”(CRC), a young-adult reentry program for participants. The program attacks one of the most serious social problems reentry youth face:…

“Sometimes being disconnected happens while in school. Sometimes it’s high school kids who just don’t see the connection between what they’re doing in the classroom and any vision for their future. And so yeah, maybe they show up. Maybe they even get a high school diploma. But they aren’t leaving with the skills they need…

Recently while visiting Washington D.C. for the NYEC annual forum, ACYR staff, Sharlet Barnett, CEO, Anel Mercado, Director of Programs and Felix Moran, former opportunity youth and current ACYR Youth Engagement Specialist, had the opportunity to visit with the staff of two Arizona elected officials; Senator Jeff Flake and Congressman Ruben Gallego.  While these were very…

My name is Felix Moran, and I grew up on the West Side of Phoenix, AZ. Being a school drop-out, gang affiliated, and not working was a norm. My friends and I were all kicked out of the public-school system, and we had to enroll in a charter school to complete our education. The small…