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Dear Forum Flash Reader,
Change is here. The Forum is proud to announce a grant for the Ready by 21 National Partners that will reach more than 200 communities and 2,000 leaders by getting them the planning and supports they need to change the odds for youth.
In addition, the Forum website has gotten an upgrade -- it's easier to navigate and organized with you in mind. We would love your feedback. See it now.
Find out how Quality Counts Sites fared during the first year, register for the latest Ready by 21 webinar, read Karen Pittman's latest Youth Today Column and more. |
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| Ready for Life: Yes, That Means College
 In her December Youth Today Column, Karen Pittman challenges leaders to "... stay with [all young people] to ensure that they complete some form of post-secondary credential -- academic or technical."
"Increasing matriculation rates will require a lot more than better financing schemes. It will require a significant expansion in the support base for youth and young adults."
Read Karen's full column to find out why young should be credentialed by 26.
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Gates Foundation Awards $1.2 Million to Change the Odds for Youth
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded $1.2 million to the Forum over the next 3 years to identify and cultivate opportunities to affirm the importance of postsecondary credentials for low-income and disconnected youth within its network of partners, people and places. The Forum will use these funds to work with the members of the Ready by 21 Partnership, the State Children's Cabinet Network and the Next Generation Youth Work Coalition who are interested in increasing their capacity to ensure college success for all.
Read the Gates Foundation's press release.
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Ready by 21 Partnership Engaged in Intensive Planning and Capacity Building
Philip Morris USA, and Altria company, awarded the Forum and the Ready by 21 Partnership $1.46 million to support an intensive seven month planning and capacity building process to embark on a five-year effort to support state and local leaders committed to doing business differently to ensure that all young people are ready for college, work and life. The Partners have developed a shared agenda, created an aggressive leadership engagement plan and are now identifying first year coordination opportunities.
Read more about the goals of the planning process
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Quality Counts Sites Reflect on the First Year
On December 4-5, teams gathered in Washington, DC from across the 13 Quality Counts sites to reflect on progress made during the first year of the initiative and fine-tune their work plans for the coming year. It was an energizing meeting that showcased a rich variety of local and state strategies and underscored the value of the peer learning and networking that under girds Ready by 21.
Read about their accomplishments and challenges from year one.
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Register for the Next Ready by 21 Webinar
Ready By 21 Big Picture Messages and Frameworks
Thursday, January 15, 2009
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST
A common vision and framework allow for better mission and resource alignment, more precise measurement of progress and provide a useful tool for communicating goals and strategies to the public, families and youth, funders, policy makers and community stakeholders. The next session of the Ready by 21 Webinar Series will demonstrate the value of having an overarching framework and vision for all youth related entities in a community.
Space is limited -- reserve your seat today!
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Happy Holidays and Happy New Year,
Karen Pittman and Laura Mattis
The Forum for Youth Investment
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