Events

Upcoming Events

Condition of Education in Western Massachusetts

Thursday, October 10, 2019 - 8:00 AM

Basketball Hall of Fame | Mass Mutual Room | Springfield, MA

Please join us for a conversation on the status of education in Western Massachusetts. The event will put a local focus on findings from the Rennie Center’s Condition of Education in the Commonwealth report. We’ll discuss how giving students leadership opportunities and a chance to shape their own education helps prepare them for success in the workforce.

Blog

Unlocking the Potential of Opportunity Youth

August 01, 2019

In the United States, one in nine young people is neither in school nor working. That’s 4.5 million Americans between the ages of 16 and 24. This population, known as Opportunity Youth (OY), is disconnected in a way that leads to lower lifetime earnings and a higher likelihood of social isolation. To solve this national challenge, we have to start locally. OY are, by definition, disconnected from major public and private institutions, and often turn to smaller community providers for help. What can communities and employers do to engage this group of young people and unlock their potential? To answer that question, we spoke with young people, community organizations, schools, and employers. Our two recent reports, Career Pathways for Opportunity Youth and Building Local: Lessons from Massachusetts Communities on Reengaging Opportunity Youth, take a look at what’s currently being done to support OY and what can be done better.