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

May 9, 2019 | News Clip | Health and Mental Health

State of Black mental health in Los Angeles

April 17, 2019 | News Clip | Opportunity Youth

Rep. Lucy McBath, Other Leaders Talk About Working With Opportunity Youth of Color

April 17, 2019 | News Clip | Youth and Young Adults

Behind the Asterisk*: Perspectives on Young Adult Mental Health from “Small and Hard-to-Reach” Communities

April 13, 2019 | News Clip | Youth and Young Adults

The Local Take: Stop The Public School To Prison Pipeline With CLASP

March 5, 2019 | Blog Post | SNAP

Speak Up! Protect SNAP for College Students

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