
YES Project Announces Call for Proposals for Virtual Action Roundtables
Apply today to co-host a Virtual Action Roundtable conversation focused on bringing employers and young people of color together to create more inclusive workplace environments.
Conversations with Young People: Employment during COVID-19
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the nation’s employment landscape, and young people are at particular risk. They’re often the first to be let go, the last to be hired, and major employers of young people—including the food service and hospitality industries—are significantly impacted by the pandemic. The YES Project has been speaking with young people representing various stages of education and employment to learn firsthand about their job experiences during COVID-19 and their advice for how decision makers can support them at this unprecedented time.
The current state of youth (un)employment speaks for itself: 1.8 million young Americans (ages 16-24) want to work, are actively searching, yet still can’t find a job.
Beyond these alarming numbers, youth employment matters:
- It strengthens young people’s confidence and ties to the labor market;
- Sets young individuals on a secure and fulfilling career pathway; and
- Adds a broader pool of talent to the workforce and boosts the economy.
That’s why the YES (Young, Employed, Successful) Project, a national initiative launched by America’s Promise Alliance, was created to support and grow our youth workforce so that every young person seeking a job can find a job.
To tackle this ambitious goal, the YES Project teamed up with nonprofits, researchers, and employers and landed on three conditions for success: ready, connected, and supported (RCS). The RCS framework is the backbone of the YES Project and serves as a consensus point for everyone– from public officials, community leaders and young people themselves – to drive action towards increasing youth employment.
The YES project is driven by these three activities:
Ready, Connected, Supported Framework

Ready, Connected, and Supported is the guiding force behind the YES Project, uniting all stakeholders behind this shared vision to help young people achieve workplace success and career development.
Finding a Way Forward

How do young people become ready for, connected to, and supported in the world of work? New qualitative research yields important and timely insights from young people themselves.
Action Round Table

Communities across the country are putting the ready, connected, and supported framework into action. Check out what’s happening in these four communities to help young people gain meaningful employment
Finding a Way Forward
Is our new qualitative study that explores specific questions about work and careers from the perspectives of 65 young adult participants in five career pathways programs across the country.
Grounded in the key components of the YES Project Ready, Connected, Supported framework, this report provides a glimpse into young people’s perceptions of their career journeys amidst today’s changing employment landscape—specifically those young people who represent groups often excluded from policy conversations: young people of color, those whose families have immigrated to the United States in search of new opportunities, and those from economically disadvantaged and working-class backgrounds. By elevating young people’s perspectives, this report aims to expand understanding of the most important components of early career development in ways that can inform youth-centered research, policy, and practice.

Four Opportunity Youth Forum Communities were selected to join the YES Project’s Action Roundtable cohort. Action Roundtables consist of communities working to improve youth employment outcomes by convening diverse stakeholders and moving them towards action. Cohort members contribute to existing youth employment systems, assist with youth job placement, and/or create pathways for youth employment.
To learn more about the Action Roundtables, check as out our key takeaways document below that touches on key themes of the gatherings to enhance collective understanding about what it takes for communities to work together to connect young people to employment opportunities. Below, you'll also find APA's own Fito Akinrade's blog about her experience with each of the communities. These lessons will inform the YES Project’s ongoing work, including its second series of Action Roundtables with new grantees.
Latest News

Employers, Do Your Part: Practical Steps toward Anti-Racism


Disrupting Economic and Racial Inequity with Three Practical Steps

Why Employers Should Connect to Opportunity Youth in 2021

Resilience Deserves A Chance: Navigating Today’s Job Market As A New College Grad

5 Ways Employers Can Support Black Employees: A Young Leader’s Advice
Latest Resources

Finding A Way Forward: Young People's Experiences Navigating the World of Work

Ready, Connected, Supported: A Framework for Youth Workforce Development and the YES Project





The YES Project is possible thanks to the generous support of AT&T, Carnegie Corporation of New York and State Farm.

The Steering Committee for the YES Project can be found here.
Conversations with Young People: Employment during COVID-19
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the nation’s employment landscape, and young people are at particular risk. They’re often the first to be let go, the last to be hired, and major employers of young people—including the food service and hospitality industries—are significantly impacted by the pandemic. The YES Project has been speaking with young people representing various stages of education and employment to learn firsthand about their job experiences during COVID-19 and their advice for how decision makers can support them at this unprecedented time.
Conversations with Young People: Employment during COVID-19
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the nation’s employment landscape, and young people are at particular risk. They’re often the first to be let go, the last to be hired, and major employers of young people—including the food service and hospitality industries—are significantly impacted by the pandemic. The YES Project has been speaking with young people representing various stages of education and employment to learn firsthand about their job experiences during COVID-19 and their advice for how decision makers can support them at this unprecedented time.