Data 4 Impact (D4I), a partnership among the PIC, BOA, the BPS, and BHCC, is focused on identifying student cohorts that are at high-risk of disengaging from school and using data to drive targeted interventions. D4I uses data dashboards as a continuous improvement tool for interventions designed to keep young people connected to school. The initiative is funded by the Aspen Institute for Community Solutions, with support from the Ballmer Group.

The BPS efforts, in partnership with the Office of Opportunity Youth, and Office of Data & Accountability, focus on chronic absenteeism, using Panorama, a new database that tracks chronic absentees and school-based interventions to improve attendance and inform policy. BHCC is focusing on improving outcomes for BPS graduates, especially students of color, through close attention to disaggregated student performance data. The HOPE (Halting Oppressive Pathways in Education) Initiative, which brings together faculty and students of color in a learning community centered on anti-racism, is a key partner. HOPE Ambassadors are male students of color who poll fellow students and provide feedback to the college on policy and practice. 

Building strong, durable partnerships through a shared vision and shared activities is at the core of our strategy to improve career outcomes. The OYC leverages major institutions like the Boston Public Schools and Bunker Hill Community College to help build their capacity to deliver career pathways at scale. Given the importance of a college credential in Boston, our current pathway work focuses on leveraging the existing college coaching initiative, Success Boston. In addition to Success Boston college navigation coaches, the OYC’s HOPE Forward coaches work with HOPE to provide coaching to opportunity youth and young men of color at BHCC. PIC career coaches provide career exploration, planning, and employment support.

Young Adult Career Center Services - In a pilot initiative, Jewish Vocational Services (JVS), with support from the PIC, the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, and the BPS, is launching young adult career center services. The program, which will employ outreach workers as well as coaches, will bring young adults into the career center at JVS to access career coaching, employment connections, and job-training referrals. This new initiative will focus on (1) recent BPS graduates who are not in college, (2) Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth participants, (3) community college stop-outs, and (4) other 18-24-year-olds not enrolled in postsecondary education or training.

In partnership with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, the OYC recently completed a youth voice project focused on mental health. The five key elements of Healing Centered Organizing are: Engaging in critical analysis and fight for structural change, promoting physical and mental health, engaging in community building, ensuring youth leadership and ownership, and fostering relevance and meaning. During the pandemic, PIC career coaches organized mental health peer leadership training led by a local BIPOC-owned therapy practice. The young adult participants further engaged with the community to advocate for mental health services for young people, with some participating as youth ambassadors on a mental health advisory council organized by a Boston City Councilor. OYC’s Healing Centered Youth Organizing project, funded by Aspen’s Youth-Led Change Fund, hired these young adults to continue the project and held a conference for young adults on the issue.