Enhancing Pathways through Powerful Partnerships.
HERE to HERE links employers, educators and diverse community stakeholders in concerted action to enhance career pathways for young people in low-income neighborhoods.
Beginning with 10,000 young people in the Bronx, they are demonstrating a powerful new approach for equipping an entire generation with the knowledge, skills, experience and social capital that lead to lifelong success.
Through partnerships, they are amplifying proven best practices to drive systems change that will help all young people access family-sustaining careers and choice-filled lives.
Why They Do What They Do
U.S. employers are struggling to effectively match talent to the right opportunities and to develop predictable recruitment pipelines so they can grow. Yet millions of young adults who could potentially fill those well-paying positions are not gaining the skills and networks needed to attain them. Here in New York, companies in robust industries like healthcare, finance, and tech remain disconnected from talent pools located in their own backyard.
At the same time, promising programs exist within and outside the Bronx to support young people in building their futures. But they often operate in isolation or only reach a few individuals who happen to be in the right place at the right time.
The Work
Their work is far-reaching, and they aren't afraid to stretch in order to achieve their goals. Their efforts are rooted in our deep relationships with our partners and community. While they try new approaches, they base their work in four foundational areas:
BUILD A ROBUST NETWORK OF PARTNERS: They are investing in building the connections and culture that support their work, including opening new community hubs where all of their partners can collaborate and develop shared solutions.
BREAK DOWN SILOS: Everyone wants young people to succeed, but truly coordinated action does not organize itself. It is not enough for educators to talk just with other educators, or employers just with other employers. They coordinate actionable steps for entire communities to come together, because no one entity can do this work alone.
MAKE BEST PRACTICE COMMON PRACTICE; Too often, the term “best practice” denotes an approach that is effective, but rare. They are not just identifying ideas that work -- they are helping others make them routine.
History
HERE to HERE began in 2015 as a collaborative project between The James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation, Big Picture Learning and DreamYard. The James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation generously supported HERE to HERE's start-up costs and makes direct, incentivizing investments in their first cohort of partners throughout the Bronx.
HERE to HERE is now a freestanding organization led by Abby Jo Sigal, founding CEO, and supported by a team of nearly 20 professionals and a network of dozens of employer, high school, post-secondary and CBO partners.
Their work is also made possible by critical funding from the Carnegie Corporation New York and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
