May 21, 2019 | Testimony/Comments | Kisha Bird

Kisha Bird Testifies Before the U. S. House of Representatives

Kisha Bird testified at the House Committee on Education and Labor hearing “Eliminating Barriers to Employment: Opening Doors to Opportunity.”

Apr 11, 2019 | Report/Brief | Nia West-Bey

Behind the Asterisk*

Young Men and Women of Color

EVENT: A Conversation on Youth Economic Mobility, Equity, and Justice

Dec 21, 2018 | Blog Post | Kisha Bird

When a FIRST STEP is not enough

When we invest in young people, we break the cycle of poverty, spark our economy, and strengthen our nation’s future. However, 4 in 10 are low income, struggling to access education and employment that prepares them for success. The rate is even higher for youth of color, who are more likely to be disconnected from school and work, attend under-resourced schools, and encounter the criminal justice system as a result of structural. CLASP works at the federal, state, and local levels to break down barriers in education and employment, focusing on racial and gender inequity as well as promoting youth as community assets. We promote effective policy that centers youth voice and enables communities to create pathways out of poverty.

Featured Expert:

Kisha Bird

Director of Youth Policy

Youth and Young Adults

New from CLASP

January 16, 2020 | Blog Post | Children, Youth & Families

A Look At 2010 to 2020 and Beyond: How Does the Past Decade Shape the Nation’s—and CLASP’s—Future?

December 11, 2019 | Blog Post | Health and Mental Health

Preventing ACEs: Getting to the Root of Community Trauma

December 10, 2019 | Blog Post | Children, Youth & Families

Our Ground, Our Voices: Uprooting Structural Barriers on Capitol Hill

November 12, 2019 | Blog Post | Immigrant Children and Families

Reflections on Citizenship from 1619 to 2019

November 12, 2019 | News Clip | Health and Mental Health

Young Minds Matter

Young Adults Grapple with Trauma

Young adults living in poverty experience trauma and structural disadvantage that has lifelong consequences. Moreover, they struggle to access formal mental health supports. They have to rely on peer networks and community-based programs to cope.

"Everybody Got Their Go Throughs": A Report on Young Adults' Mental Health Challenges