Challenge & Opportunity

For reasons outside of their control, many people lack the opportunities and investments needed to pursue a quality of life that sustains and supports families.

In Philadelphia, poverty and a segregated and divested public education system contribute to these issues. The same is true in rural spaces where geographic isolation has created economic segregation and a lack of labor force participation resulting in economic immobility.

By the time under-resourced youth reach adulthood, many have not received skills development and experiential opportunities that typically facilitate entry into sustainable career pathways. Many have also been exposed to trauma and loss, resulting in developmental and economic impacts that have not been deeply explored.