Campaign for Youth: Our Youth, Our Economy, Our Future

Jul 23, 2009

Since its inception in 2002, Campaign for Youth has addressed issues confronting low-income youth ages 16 to 24, elevating these issues in the public policy arena. These issues, ranging from unacceptably high school dropout rates to high levels of youth unemployment and insufficient public investment in quality education and training options to prepare youth for 21st Century labor market opportunities are as pressing today as when the campaign began.  

Last year, the Campaign launched “Our Youth, Our Economy, Our Future”, a call to action with recommendations for a national investment strategy to reconnect youth and increase the level of federal investment in youth programs directed at the out-of-school and high risk vulnerable youth populations.  Aimed at influencing the New Congress and Administration, this call to action mobilized over 250 local and national advocates, practitioners, and policy makers from across the country in support of youth in the most distressed situations.  “Our Youth, Our Economy, Our Future” articulates six core components in which youth federal policy should be directed, including, building the youth delivery capacity of local communities to involving young people in finding policy solutions that work for them.  Read the full investment strategy on the Campaign for Youth's website.   

The Campaign continues to work with the Administration, Congress, and national and local advocates, policymakers and practitioners to implement the National Investment Strategy and influence policies that will ultimately enable positive outcomes for all youth.  Housed at CLASP, the Campaign is a coalition of national youth policy and direct service organizations that is committed to elevating the issues of disconnected youth to national attention. The Campaign is co-chaired by CLASP and The Corps Network.