More than 800 community members are taking part in the Opportunity Summit in San Diego Thursday.
San Diego Workforce Partnership teamed up with youth advocates to address the needs of 37,000 people in San Diego County who are between the ages of 16-24 and who are not employed or in school. This is the population organizers refer to as “opportunity youth.”
The event features a lineup of speakers to cover topics including homelessness, criminal justice reform and education equity. Youth who have experienced disconnection will lead discussions around how leaders can provide resources that encourage continuing education and joining the workforce. Attendees will help develop action steps for lowering the rate of disconnection to 7.3 percent by 2020.
In March, the San Diego Workforce Partnership and Measure of America released a 2019 report that found San Diego’s black youth disconnection rate is much higher than the rate for other sub-groups in the region. Adults who were disconnected in their youth experienced lower income and employment, less home ownership and worse health conditions.
San Diego Workforce Partnership just launched the OpportunitySD Hope Fund. Starting in September, with help from the community, OpportunitySD member organizations will be ready with needed cash when our young adults need a helping hand. Grant associates and the San Diego Foundation seeded the fund with $4,500. It needs at least $20,000 to launch in September.
