PHOENIX, AZ – Young Arizona job-seekers have new skills designed to help them find jobs and to better plan for careers, thanks to the Opportunities for Youth (OFY) Initiative at Arizona State University’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. OFY aims to re-engage local opportunity youth, defined as young adults ages 16-24 who are disconnected from work and school.
Read moreAZEDNEWS: AZ Dept. of Ed Hires Associate Superintendent of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion →
Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman announced Monday the hiring of Erica Maxwell as the Arizona Department of Education’s first-ever Associate Superintendent of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Ms. Maxwell has over 25 years of experience as a certified educator. Her experience includes roles as an administrator in the Chandler Unified School District, instructional coach at Skyline Gila River – a non-profit charter school serving the Gila River Indian Community, adjunct faculty member at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and faculty associate at Arizona State University.
Maxwell served as a member of the Opportunities for Youth Educational Momentum Action team, supporting at-risk and disconnected youth.
Read moreCommunities Share Strategies to Support Opportunity Youth
Shaping the Narrative: Community Stories of Effective Practice and Impact Across the OYF Network, lifts up the stories from Opportunity Youth Forum (OYF) communities working on the ground to improve policies and programs to support opportunity youth, who are 16- to 24-year-olds out of work and school. The OYF began as a group of 21 community collaboratives and has grown to a network of more than two-dozen urban, rural, and tribal communities. Roughly one-quarter (about 1.2 million) of all opportunity youth in the United States reside in or near OYF communities.
Read moreManufacturing Training Program - Brandon Estrada
Brandon Estrada is a recent Graduate of the GateWay Community College Manufacturing Training Program. Brandon was able to use the Opportunities for Youth full-ride scholarship, to complete the program for FREE, receive a certification, continue his education at GateWay Community College (for free), AND get a promotion at work!
Read moreStarbucks College Achievement Plan
Opportunities for Youth partner, Starbucks and Arizona State University have partnered establish the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, which gives partners (employees) the opportunity to earn a college degree at Arizona State University with full tuition coverage.
Read moreLa Reyna Radio - Opportunities for Youth
Felix Moran, 25, walks through his old Phoenix neighborhood where he was a disconnected youth. When he was 17 he was sent to prison for burglary and when he was released he struggled to find employment. He is now joining Opportunities for Youth to do outreach to young people facing challenges like he did.
Read moreWatts Family Maryvale YMCA - Jewel Shidler - GED Graduate
At her Y-Achievers GED graduation on April 27th, 2019, Jewel Shidler shared the story of how she discovered her “Pathway to a Brighter Future”! Read Her Story, here!
Read moreStarbucks Opportunity Cafe - Aubrey Brookover
Aubrey Brookover was homeless when she found support from Opportunities for Youth partner, Starbucks. With the support of her leadership, she has learned how hard work can help you be successful on the "Pathway to a Brighter Future"!
Read moreArizona Center for Youth Resources - Carlos Alvarez
Carlos Alvarez is a former opportunity youth from Phoenix, Arizona. Who with the Opportunities for Youth Partner, ACYR returned to high school and graduated with his high school diploma! Hear his story, and learn how anyone can overcome their obstacles and be successful in the pursuit of success!
Read moreOpportunities for Youth Impact
Kristin Ferguson-Colvin and Felix Moran talk about expanding Opportunities for Youth throughout the state of Arizona.
Read moreKJZZ: Maricopa County Reduces Rate Of Opportunity Youth →
We were invited onto KJZZ's The Show for an interview with Mark Brodie! Opportunities for Youth Outreach Coordinator Damonte Johnson and Executive Director James Hoyt, as they shared Damonte's story and how opportunity youth across Maricopa County, like him, may utilize the services and resources of OFY.
Read moreArizona Republic: How Phoenix stopped being worst in the country for teens →
Felix Moran, 25, walks through his old Phoenix neighborhood where he was a disconnected youth. When he was 17 he was sent to prison for burglary and when he was released he struggled to find employment. He is now joining Opportunities for Youth to do outreach to young people facing challenges like he did.
Read moreBelieve in Your Worth - Opportunities for Youth
Listen to Damonte Johnson talk about the importance of believing in your worth, and how Opportunities for Youth helped him discover his worth.
Read moreArizona Republic: Job fair aims to pair 'disconnected' youth with employment, education →
The second-annual 100K Opportunities Job Fair and Forum took place on March 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the A.E. England Building near Arizona State University's downtown Phoenix campus.
Read moreOpportunities for Youth - Felix Moran
Felix Moran, 25, walks through his old Phoenix neighborhood where he was a disconnected youth. When he was 17 he was sent to prison for burglary and when he was released he struggled to find employment. He is now joining Opportunities for Youth to do outreach to young people facing challenges like he did.
Read moreArizona Republic: Tamela Franks, Former OFY Executive Director passes away at 48 →
Franks — a visionary, fashionista and second mom to young people finding their way — died Oct. 13 after a six-month battle with glioblastoma, she was 48.
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