Mentoring Solutions for Sustaining Youth Employment

In this time of social distancing and multiple pandemics, MENTOR thinks a lot about power, privilege, and opportunities, especially when it comes to how young people will access the job market. Last September, Equitable Futures surveyed approximately 1,200 young people ages 15- to 21-years old and found 39% of the respondents were Very Concerned or…

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Hosting the First Live Virtual Career Fair using Edge Factor

Challenges are not new to the people who live and  work in western Pennsylvania, so when COVID-19 upended what activities take place during a normal school year, local workforce and education leaders addressed it as an opportunity to rethink their annual Business & Industry Career Fair.  “The Fair is an opportunity for our 10th grade…

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The Next Generation of Marketing

While trying to find creative ways to incorporate youth voice into our work at the Next Generation Zone, I brainstormed an idea to start an internship that would teach selected young people who are currently enrolled with us about marketing.  The idea being to educate them about our workforce system, and our branding, and then…

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NYEC Supports Organizations as They Apply the Science of Adolescent Brain Development to Their Work

As more is known about adolescent brain science, it’s clear that supporting positive youth development, addressing trauma, and improving executive function skills all contribute to improving outcomes such as credential attainment, job placement, and retention. The National Youth Employment Coalition has been working with youth workforce organizations in Phoenix and Indianapolis to infuse executive skill…

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