Out-of-School Time Works this August: Why you should be talking about youth workforce readiness
August 6, 2021
MENTOR invited the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to talk about Clubs’ focus on skills development for youth and a bill we jointly support, the Youth Workforce Readiness Act (YWRA). You can join MENTOR and BGCA in encouraging Congress to act on the YWRA this Advocacy August by taking action here.
Our kids want the skills and knowledge to be able to land a first job and navigate the path to a high-paying, high-quality career. In fact, more than 75% of youth express concerns about whether they have the skills necessary to secure a job (Measure of America, Disconnected Youth). Boys & Girls Clubs of America help youth develop the essential, social-emotional skills to navigate the workplace and life, provide career exposure including through high quality mentors, provide targeted skills training for first jobs, and connect them with internships and jobs. Especially at a time when youth are facing historic levels of disconnection from school and work due to the pandemic, youth-serving organizations meet young people where they are and help them prepare for success after graduation (Measure of America, A Decade Undone and Pew Research Center).
Boys & Girls Clubs know the value that quality workforce development provides because they run powerful programs like this across the country and see the results in their kids every day. Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s national programs, such as This Way Onward with Old Navy, build partnerships with major employers that provide Club youth with the first jobs, mentoring, skills and confidence to start their career path. Many Clubs have also built incredible programs from the ground up at the local level. For example, at Boys & Girls Clubs of King County in Seattle, Washington Club teens are connected to job opportunities that prepare them for life after graduation. Teens begin the program with a series of workshops to prepare them for a future job and career, and after going through career counseling, resume writing and mentoring, are placed in internships that allow them to build their skills while establishing professional relationships with local businesses such as the Seattle Seahawks, Kaiser Permanent and Bank of America.
Congress can empower nonprofits like Boys & Girls Clubs of America to expand these programs and provide youth the resources and opportunities they need to chart their path to a high-quality career by passing the Youth Workforce Readiness Act (YWRA) (S.1696/H.R.3342). YWRA would establish a grant through the U.S. Department of Labor for national, youth-serving nonprofits to support local organizations providing programs to youth ages six to 18 focused on four pillars that support youth workforce readiness:
- Essential-Skill Development: Supporting social and emotional development through every stage in both formal and informal learning experiences to hone skills like good judgment, smart decision-making, effective communication and collaboration.
- Career Exposure: Targeted programming through community business partnerships that provide discovery opportunities, career assessments, planning and insights into both traditional and non-traditional career fields.
- Employability & Certification: Interview rehearsal, resume writing support, financial literacy training and, certifications in specific areas that will help youth land their first job.
- Work Based Learning: Hands-on work experiences through local community business partnerships that encourage real-life application of skills.
Increased resources are needed to support the incredible work happening at Clubs and youth-serving organizations across the country. With increased support, these programs can scale up to connect more youth with the skills development, career exploration, local partnerships and work-based learning opportunities youth are looking for.
Inviting a Member of Congress to see your workforce readiness programming in action is the perfect way to highlight the impact you are making in your community and show them why they should support the Youth Workforce Readiness Act. When Members can meet the youth you serve and talk to them about their positive experiences at your program they are much more likely to remember the critical importance and impact of your work back on Capitol Hill.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America started early this summer with exciting, high profile visits throughout June and July. U.S. House Education and Labor Committee Chair Bobby Scott (D-VA) visited Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula to talk with Club Kids about his career path to Congress and to learn more about the role Clubs play in preparing youth for work and career, which the Youth Workforce Readiness Act would strengthen. Chairman Scott was especially excited to learn about the Club’s plans for a new apprenticeship program for their Club teens with one of largest and oldest employers in the area, Newport News Shipbuilding, in addition to pre-apprenticeship activities at the Club to expose younger youth to what they can expect from apprenticeship programs. In North Carolina, the Ranking Member of the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC), had a great visit in her district at Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland County. Representative Foxx spoke directly with the Club Kids and heard from Club staff about the importance of YWRA.
August is a critical time to connect your Members of Congress while they are back in their home states and districts. Reach out to your elected officials today to invite them to visit your program and let them know the difference YWRA could make for your community.