Hoping to make a greater impact on the county”™s economic vitality, the Fairfield County Community Foundation recently developed a new strategic focus ”“ self-sufficiency for young adults.
At a time when many college graduates are unemployed, living with their parents and saddled with debt, FCCF CEO Juanita James said it”™s time to make an investment in the county”™s young adults. Whether they”™re a college graduate or a high school dropout, thousands aren”™t able to support themselves by age 24, she said.
“There”™s an opportunity for us to revitalize our economy by paying attention to young adults and providing them the opportunities to be successful,” James said.
In the last 20 years the foundation has supported hundreds of social services and programs for housing, nutrition and education. But now, on top of those services, James said the foundation plans to provide a more thoughtful network of resources for young adults, split into three paths: vocational education, college preparedness and scholarships and entrepreneurship training.
The state”™s youth unemployment rate of 17.1 percent stands 1.1 percentage points higher than the national average, according think tank Connecticut Voices for Children. In Fairfield County, city unemployment rates for those ages 20 to 24 range from 13.6 percent to 31.9 percent. The unemployment rate climbs as high as 49.5 percent for teenagers in Bridgeport.
“If we had a higher graduation rate, lower unemployment rate (for young adults) and a greater percentage of young people staying here and contributing to the economy, it would result in a tremendous economic benefit for businesses and the community at large,” James said. “The two most critical areas this foundation can make a difference in are education and jobs. The way we look at it, there”™s a critical intersection between the two and an opportunity there for us to invest in and provide focus on ways that put youth on the path to self sufficiency.”
The foundation”™s board of directors approved the new strategic focus Dec. 11 and soon officers will reach out to national organizations running successful youth education and employment programs not yet offered in Fairfield County.
James said there are many youth employment initiatives and partnerships going on between the public, private and nonprofit sectors but that the programs aren”™t interconnected well. James said she hopes, in the fall, to host a symposium to bring the sectors together to present programs, determine best practices and facilitate collaboration.
“The business community is an important part of this,” James said. “If we produce educated youth that still don”™t have the skills an employer needs, then businesses may decide this isn”™t a good place to stay at. They won”™t grow jobs here and stay.”
She added, “A lot of people really understand this. It”™s a question of where we can partner to create a systemic solution.”
The foundation has been nationally recognized for its ability to partner with different constituents, including those on the receiving end. When it comes to children, James said it”™s no different. As the foundation determines what are the best ways to improve graduation rates, college preparedness and employability, the foundation will be checking in with young adults for feedback, every step of the way.
“We see the youth voice and advocate as an important part of this,” James said. “It”™s not just adults deciding what is best, but engaging young people. What are their needs and aspirations? How can they be partners in their own success in life?”
