Opportunity Youth: How Access and Exposure to Early Work Experiences Helps Young People Succeed Thaddeus Ferber (FFYI) Martha Ross (Brookings) Stephanie Amponsah (Urban Alliance Baltimore) Zed Smith (Cordish Company) Jason Perkins-Cohen (Mayor’s Office of Employment Development) March 31, 2016

URBAN ALLIANCE Stephanie Amponsah Urban Alliance a Early Workforce Model March 31, 2016

Year Round High School Internship Program Urban Alliance is a National youth development nonprofit in Washington, DC, Baltimore, Chicago and Northern Virginia. Urban Alliance empowers under- resourced youth to aspire, work, and succeed through paid internships, formal training, and mentoring.

Urban Alliance Youth “Middle of the Road” GPA 90% qualify for Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs) 77% live in neighborhoods with an unemployment rate greater than 10% and nearly half live in neighborhoods with poverty rates higher than 25% 53% live with parents who never attended college

5 Youth Disconnection 50% High school drop-out rate for minority students 1 + out of 7 Youth ages not employed or enrolled in school F ailure to find work is distressing for anyone, but unemployment in youth increases the risks of unemployment in later life, both by limiting the ability of young adults to accumulate work experience and skills and by signaling to potential future employers a lack of productivity. These scarring effects can manifest themselves in other areas as well.” “ —Measure of America, “One in Seven: Youth Disconnection in the 25 Largest Metro Areas,” Too Many in their Teens and 20’s Adrift: The Lasting Impact of Disengagement: Sources: Measure of America, Harvard Civil Rights Project.

Programmatic Elements 1.Professional, paid internships 2.Mentoring from an adult professional 3.Case management from a dedicated staff member 4.Weekly workshops focused on college and career skills

Program Model Receive five weeks of pre-work training, covering communication, professionalism, goal setting, and job-readiness skills, including resume writing and interviewing; Complete up to 600 hours of on-the-job work experience at a professional internship placement; Gain targeted training through weekly professional development workshops on topics such as financial literacy and college preparation; Work with an on-site mentor to shape their professional growth.

UA Program Model

Graduate High School Gain work experience in professional setting Increase proficiency in job-based soft skills Solidify post secondary school plan with goals Acquire skills for finding and maintaining employment

12 Why It Works—and How We Help Wraparound Support Before, During, and After the Internship Rigorous Training Prior to Internship SIX-WEEK TRAINING INTENSIVE Selects and Prepares Youth, Minimizes Employer Training Time Extensive Support During Internship EXPANSIVE “EMPLOYER TOOLKIT” for Job Partners and Weekly Skill-Building Workshops for Interns A Lifelong Alumni Network ONGOING ALUMNI SUPPORT Beyond Program to Ensure Long-Term Intern Success Law Firms Help manage law libraries, work in IT support, create files for cases, aid in administrative tasks, manage databases, organize filing cabinets Hospitality Make confirmation calls, create calendars, make copies of brochures, sort binders, work in the visitor center, assemble gift bags Real Estate Compile transfer agreement packages, contact companies to verify insurance, assist with filing and data entry, complete postal runs Public Relations Help plan new hire mixers, upload and file documents, organize and deliver mail, log media requests, inventory gifts for charity drives Financial Institutions Help with preparing investment information for clients, provide customer service, work in IT support, aid in administrative tasks Consulting Provide support to accounting department, schedule meetings, run reports on databases, type and file documents Medical Work in volunteer services, collect donations, answer phones, rotate units and shadow administrative professionals Construction Work in human resources, check application databases for recruiting, work in finance department to organize payments Government Research claims and incident reports, type and file documents, run social media updates, manage community events Representative Tasks Completed by Urban Alliance Interns

13 Partnership 2,000 + Low-income youth served in the past 16 years Corporations partnering with us to mentor youth interns Hours of mentoring and work experience 100% High school graduation rate for Urban Alliance alumni By the Numbers: Hours of life skills and job readiness workshops 215+ Job Partners Mentoring Urban Alliance Youth Representative Corporations 90% of mentors survey would recommend being an Urban Alliance mentor to a colleague The Advisory Board Company Association of American Medical Colleges Atlantic Media Baltimore City Mayor’s Office Baltimore City Public Schools Bank of America BGE Capital One CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Carlyle Group Children’s National Medical Center Clark Construction Constellation Cordish Company Congressman Elijah Cummings Corporate Executive Board DC Chamber of Commerce Direct TV DLA Piper Fannie Mae Corporation Johns Hopkins University Legg Mason Mayor’s Office of Employment Development Marriott Hotels McKinsey & Company Morgan Stanley National Geographic News Corporation Office of U.S, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Office of Patent & Trade Office of Personnel Management Pepco Verizon Washington Post Wells Fargo World Bank

14 Urban Alliance Job Partner Job Partner Responsibilities Our Commitment to You Urban Alliance Responsibilities Coordinate intern training, interviews and placement Ongoing intern professional development and case management services Facilitate mentor training and provide a mentor binder with ideas for structuring the workplace Program Coordinators support the mentor through weekly case management services and check-ins Complete quarterly skill evaluation Post-Secondary Coaching Alumni Support Identify a supervisor who will serve as the Urban Alliance Intern’s mentor while on the job Provide meaningful tasks and experiences for the Intern Meet Intern daily Support the Intern’s personal, academic and professional development Make a tax-deductible contribution to Urban Alliance for the salary, training, and alumni support for each Intern Job Partner Benefits Leadership opportunities for employees through mentoring and management of Intern Pipeline of trained young people poised to become entry-level employees in your department Opportunities for staff to volunteer during work hours Increase in the number of skills, young professionals prepared to make positive changes in the community and fill vital professional roles Young people involved in productive after-school activity to keep them engaged in academics and personal development Exposure and networking opportunities in a professional setting Support and guidance in post high school planning 10 months of on-the-job training and weekly professional development workshops

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