GET INVOLVED
WE CANNOT BE SILENT
COMMIT TO ONE EDUCATIONAL ACTION PER YEAR
THE FACTS
Every nine seconds in America, a student becomes a dropout.1
32% of American students never graduate from high school! The situation is especially dismal for students in our nation’s largest high-poverty urban districts, where almost 66% never graduate. The lowest high school graduation rates (33%) are concentrated in 200 to 300 schools in the 35 largest U.S. cities. 2
The US death rate for persons with fewer than 12 years of education is 2.5 times higher than for those with 13 or more years of education. 3
One out of every four African-Americans and one out of every five Latinos between the ages of 16 to 24 are out-of-school, unemployed, and on the street.4
In 2000, there were 4.6 million 16 to 24 year-olds who were both jobless and out-of-school. That is approximately fifteen percent of the 16-24 year-old population.5
At no time in the past 55 years have so few male teens worked, when compared to a percentage of their population. 6
Only 6.8 percent of black high-school dropouts working full-time earn a salary above the poverty line. 7
Those who have dropped out of school are at high risk of incarceration. 65% of all young adults who are incarcerated did not finish high school. 8
Teens are finding it harder than ever to find a job. Only 36% of 16-19 year olds are working. Less than 20% of black teens are working. This is the lowest employment rate for teens in 57 years since this data has been collected.10
Work experiences in high school increases the likelihood of graduation from high school relative to those who do not work at all. 11
Investments in disconnected youth have declined by more than two-thirds. In 1979, the Department of Labor spent $6 billion for employment training for youth ($15 billion in today’s dollars). Today, that investment is $2.6 billion.12
Human Progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Even a superficial look at history reveals that no social advance rolls in on the wheels if inevitability. Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle, the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. Without persistent effort, time itself becomes an ally of the primitive forces of irrational emotionalism and social destruction. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is time for vigorous and positive action.
-Martin Luther King
The Situation is Alarming
With economic indicators in the past month touting an economic expansion and a low unemployment rate, one would think that our children have the best opportunities for nurturing and success more than ever before. However, in the United States the reality is that one out of four African American and one out of five Hispanic youth ages 14-21 are out-of-school, out-of-work, and on the streets. A growing social and economic irrelevance is quickly sweeping over poor black, Latino, and white youth; and very few individuals are doing anything about it.
As politicians travel the country touting “Leave No Child Behind”, they are forgetting one very important fact: this country only provides remedial educational and employment services for 3% of the eligible out-of-school youth population. Do the math: 5.4 million out-of-school youth for 250,000 program slots – somebody is going to be left behind.
The Time to Act is Now
Now more than ever, we must educate our policy makers and the general public about the out-of-school youth who have been undervalued and overlooked, and who have the potential to become America’s best resource or worst liability.
We know that the process of becoming a responsible adult starts long before these youth become “out-of-school”. We also know that it is difficult to address sixteen to twenty-one years of neglect in six months time. Nothing short of a serious intervention strategy will address this issue. To mount this rescue, to take on this mission, we will need sufficient resources and a policy supported by the popular will. We must give this the highest priority. However, we know this is not, and probably never will be, an issue of major concern for this country. The only time we see major investments in out-of-school youth occurs after major social disturbances. With the number of young adults out of school, out of work, and on the streets, this issue needs to be addressed immediately.
I must Do Something Solves More Problems than Something must Be Done
During Youth Opportunity Month 2006, youth development and employment programs and the young people they serve will initiate weekly events and activities designed to bring attention to the needs and aspirations of our nation’s out-of-school youth and to the corresponding efforts that help them become self-sufficient citizens and responsible members of their community.
In the spirit of the civil rights struggle, all of these activities will work to appeal to an individual’s sense of love and fairness. Focusing on non-confrontational educational awareness, youth will be trained and equipped with the skills and abilities to educate the public about their needs, accomplishments, and desire for genuine opportunities.
Through non-confrontational strategies, the public and policy makers will be prompted to analyze their beliefs and perceptions about this population and will be challenged to take action on behalf of the 5.4 million out-of-school youth in the United States.
Each month, starting in September, youth programs are urged to initiate youth-involved non-confrontational educational awareness actions aimed at a particular target (ie: city hall, state office building, media outlets, large corporations, etc). The purpose of each of these actions is to change public perception and political support for out-of-school youth. Youth Opportunity Month participants should be stable, mature, and responsible youth in the program who understand the purpose of non-confrontational educational awareness and community action. |
