Who are Opportunity Youth?
In California there are nearly 500,000 (12.3%) 18-24-year-olds without a high school diploma. One in eight 18-24-year-old Californians lack the most basic credential necessary to finding family sustaining employment.
Opportunity Youth - sometimes referred to as "disconnected youth" - are defined as people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor working. Out of the 38.9 million Americans who fall into the 16 - 24 age range, about 5.5 million can be described as Opportunity Youth. These young men and women represent a social and economic opportunity: many of them are eager to further their education, gain work experience, and help their communities. Not investing in the future of these youth means 5.5 million missed opportunities.
COYN Communities
From Del Norte County in the far north, to San Diego in far South, six communities have joined together in a state wide network to improve results for Opportunity Youth. Current COYN members include: Del Norte & Tribal Lands, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara County. We represent both the urban and rural communities in the state and are laser focused on improving education-to-career pathways for Opportunity Youth.
In California, six communities - more than in any other state – have taken up the charge to improve educational and career outcomes for disconnected youth. Leaders of the six California collaboratives and their supporters have agreed that a high degree of collaboration among these communities can lead to improved outcomes for all youth in California.
Join COYN!
To connect with COYN or learn more, email us at: CaliforniaOpportunityYouth@gmail.com