The Connecting Youth to Jobs Act introduced by @repchuygarcia and @repmarcykaptur would directly connect young people to employment opportunities and support services, prioritizing young people who have been most historically excluded.
Our #newdealforyouth changemakers scored this bill that would advance economic justice and opportunity for young people.
Congress must include this legislation in the economic recovery.
High Impact Question: | Yes/No | Why? |
Does it shift power, decision-making, and/or resources to youth and young adults? | Yes | The bill will directly connect young people to employment opportunities and support services, prioritizing underserved young people. Living-wage employment opportunities with the ability to unionize will provide young people with more power, decision-making, and resources. |
Is it youth-led? | No | Though the bill was informed by young people, it was not specifically led by youth. |
Does it dismantle institutions and systems that have become complacent? | No | The focus of the Connecting Youth to Jobs Act is not dismantling systems, but rather to respond to exacerbated challenges young people face due to COVID-19. |
Is it youth-centered? | Yes | Youth are the sole focus of this bill. |
Does it address immediate needs? | Yes | Providing young people with employment opportunities and supporting youth employment services will address the immediate economic hardships young people are facing. |
Does it build momentum towards systems change? | Yes | Through the bill, the Department of Labor will collect annual data on youth employment, allowing for the advancement of youth employment initiatives and systems change. |
Does it transform the system rather than reform it? | Yes | The Connecting Youth to Jobs Act is creating a new entitlement program for youth employment, transforming the current system. |
Does it support young people’s liberation? | Yes | Sustained employment provides young people with security, long-term opportunities, more autonomy over their lives. The Connecting Youth to Jobs Act supports young people’s liberation. |
Does it set youth up for success? | Yes | Access to employment opportunities sets youth up for long-term success in both their professional and personal lives. |
Does it center healing? | No | Healing is not centered in the Connecting Youth to Jobs Act. |
Is it community-driven? | Yes | The creation of the bill was informed by community members. |
Does it address many different areas that impact young people’s lives? | Yes | The bill acknowledges that young people are often excluded from investments in employment and experience many financial challenges due to their young age and other marginalized identities. |
Does it address long-term thriving? | Yes | The Connecting Youth to Jobs Act is focused on securing sustained employment for young people, supporting their long-term thriving. |
Does it ensure that none of our priority populations are left out? | Yes | The bill supports historically disadvantaged youth, including “youth of color, out-of-school youth, low-income youth, youth impacted by the criminal justice system, foster youth, and youth experiencing homelessness.” |
Does it shift narratives around youth and young adults? | Yes | The narrative that young people are dependent on the income of their parents/guardians and thus are not in need of financial assistance is shifted through this bill. |
Does it recognize that young people hold more than one identity at the same time? | Yes | The Connecting Youth to Jobs Act highlights the various identities that young people hold and the ways these identities may create employment disadvantages that the bill aims to mitigate. |
Does it recognize that we all deserve great things for our communities? | Yes | Youth employment and support services promoted through this bill support the recognition that all young people, regardless of identity or background, deserve great things for their communities. Increased access to employment opportunities will promote equity and safe communities. |
Does it benefit at least one priority population? | Yes | The bill promotes employment opportunities for historically disadvantaged youth. |
