As we grapple with the recent violence in Wisconsin, America’s Promise and The 74 Million held a Youth Town Hall to hear the perspectives and advice of young people during this important moment in our history. In that conversation, Shanyce, a high school senior from Staten Island, NY, said something that is particularly relevant in this moment: "This can’t be just politics—this is the reality that I come home to. We can’t brush it off and say ‘it happens’–schools should have open conversations about this, because it’s not going away.”

The report and companion guide, based on interviews with more than 100 youth across the country, offer action steps for engaging young people in conversation and change.

WASHINGTON – A nationally representative survey of high school students, administered when most had been out of school for more than four weeks due to COVID-19, suggests that many students are feeling unhappy or depressed; worried about having their basic needs met; and disconnected from school, adults, and classmates.

On May 25th, George Floyd died as a result of an egregious act of police brutality. In the two weeks since, communities around the country have risen up in outrage and in search of justice for Mr. Floyd, his family, and for the countless other Black lives that have been lost as a result of systems that were built on a foundation of oppression.

Like so many others, we were deeply pained by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis this past Monday. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Violence against Black Americans, as we’ve seen with the recent deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others this year alone, is emblematic of the systemic racism that remains in our country.

WASHINGTON – America’s Promise Alliance’s GradNation campaign today released guidance to help policymakers, educators, and community leaders make decisions about high school students whose educations have been upended by COVID-19.  

When the nation and families are pulling together to weather the unprecedented effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is disappointing to see the President minimize the impact this crisis is having on young people.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Education today released data showing the high school graduation rate for the class of 2018 hit a record high of 85.3%. This is continued progress, according to the leaders of the GradNation campaign, but much more must be done to close equity gaps and support all students in earning a quality diploma that prepares them for their futures.

Leaders from across Los Angeles County will gather today to make commitments in support of youth who are transitioning out of the foster care system because of their age. Los Angeles County has the nation’s largest foster-youth population, with more than 10,000 current and former foster youth ages 14 to 24.

This Thanksgiving week, America’s Promise Alliance announced 10 winners in the Power of Youth Challenge, which provides $1,000 grants to young people to identify a challenge in their own community, devise a solution, and carry out their own service projects around the country.