On Monday, February 12th, the MAX Leadership Network convened to learn more about Atlanta-based efforts underway to serve our region’s opportunity youth. The meeting was hosted by WorkSource Atlanta.
Roshni Chengappa, Program Coordinator for Generation’s Atlanta office, provided an overview on the organization’s efforts around the world. Generation is a nonprofit founded by McKinsey in 2015 to tackle global youth unemployment that now operates in 63 cities in five countries. More than 16,000 youth have graduated from a Generation program; 82 percent have been placed into a job within three months and 72 percent have retained their job for at least one year. Generation recently launched a hospitality program in Atlanta and graduated 23 students in its first cohort. Says an Atlanta program graduate, “I am truly grateful that I was able to attend and I am happy that I finished as well. I have changed so many things in my daily thought process because of the program. I see nothing but positives in my future.” Click here to see Chengappa’s presentation. Click here for more information on Generation.
Robert Lewis, Director of Juma’s Atlanta office, provided an overview of the social enterprise which began in 1993 “to break the cycle of poverty by paving the way to work, education, and financial capability for youth across America.” Today, the organization operates in nine cities through 21 social enterprise venues. In 2017, the organization served 1,200 opportunity youth. In Georgia, 250 opportunity youth have been hired through Juma’s efforts to connect them with employers such as the Georgia World Congress Center, SunTrust Park, and Mercedes Benz Stadium. Click here to see Lewis’ presentation. Click here for a video with a Juma program participant. Click here for more information on Juma.
ABOUT THE MAX LEADERSHIP NETWORK
The MAX Leadership Network is comprised of workforce leaders who convene regularly to strengthen our collective capacity as workforce developers to meet the needs that employers have for a ready workforce. Members of this network come together to jointly do the following:
- Learn more about who is doing what, where, and for whom
- Explore common issues and opportunities, and share ideas for building solutions
- Make new connections and catalyze partnerships
- Keep each other updated and informed on ways we can help each other