"Social Capital" issue (January)
A newsletter (for adults) about career readiness (for kids)
Dear Readers,
“Who you know” has always mattered, and the social capital young people possess is every bit as important as their grades and formal achievements. ASA research shows that 40% of jobs today are secured through referrals and personal connections. (Read the story.) Yet, for too long, very few young people—typically those from advantaged backgrounds—have had access to powerful social capital. This inequity is felt acutely in places like Dallas County, Texas, where local children have a two-in-three chance of not earning a living wage when they grow up. (Read the story.)
The social capital situation is improving, and we’re proud to be a part of that change. Most recently, EvolveMe®, our free digital career readiness platform used by nearly two million teens, has been integrated with mentorship-matching nonprofit, UStrive, where nearly 400,000 interactions have been facilitated between mentors and mentees. (Read the story.) Looking nationwide, we also see that more organizations are partnering with school districts to offer kids out-of-class learning opportunities. That means a growing number of kids, regardless of their backgrounds, can connect with professionals, mentors, and role models, and in doing so, they can build and expand their own networks.
Social capital is particularly powerful for young people who face complex challenges in their lives. We see this in action with Spartan Project SEARCH: a collaboration between Michigan State University and Ingham County School Districts that offers immersive work-based learning opportunities to young people with disabilities. (Read the story.) And, we see it through a new, evidence-based training program for justice-involved youth in Oklahoma. (Read the story.)
To see how effective mentorship can be in giving kids social capital, look no further than the story of Nita Simpson and her non-profit, Battle Tested Kids. (Read Nita’s story.) And, read about how young students in the Midwest have been connecting with Air Force pilots, firefighters, and other professional mentors. (Read the story). I urge educators, employers, and parents who are interested in learning more about mentoring programs to check out MENTOR’s guidebook, Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring. (Get the guide.)
In closing, I invite you to listen to the latest episodes of The One Question Podcast—my collaboration with author Michael Horn. Most recently, we were thrilled to be joined by world-class musician Yo-Yo Ma, who explained that young people need to start early in making deposits in their proverbial knowledge banks. (See our interview.) We also spoke to journalist and CNBC anchor Jon Fortt, who shared thoughts on preparing kids for the AI era. (See our interview.)
Sincerely,
Jean
P.S. - If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org
ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS & RESEARCH
21 Priorities for Student Success and Learning in 2025 (eSchool News, January 3, 2025)
Internship Program Called ‘Win, Win’ for Santa Fe Students and City (Santa Fe New Mexican, January 4, 2025)
Charlottesville High School Students Pair Up with UVA PhD Students for Mentorship (29 News, December 11, 2024)
National Nonprofit to Bring Mentorship Program to Detroit High Schools (Bridge Detroit, December 30, 2024)
Canarelli Middle School Students Explore Careers at UNR Extension (CCSD Newsroom, December 2, 2024)
The Best Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree, According to New Research (CNBC, January 17, 2025)
Indigenous Students Count: Challenges and Promising Practices (Education Commission of the States Newsroom, November 14, 2024)
What Does “Youth Apprenticeship” Mean? The Answer, According to Each State (New America, November 21, 2024)
EVENTS
Finally, below is a list of upcoming events, and recaps of recent panel presentations and podcasts, that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.
REGISTER TO ATTEND
SXSW EDU (Austin, March 3-6, 2025 - Learn more)
ASU+GSV Summit (San Diego, April 6-9, 2025 - Learn more)
Horizons Summit (New Orleans, June 10-11, 2025 - Learn more)
EVENT RECAPS
“Live in the Along”: Celebrating What School Could Look Like (Read the recap)
Launchpad Jobs: So Much More Than a First Step (Read the recap)
When it Comes to Career Exploration, Are States Making Middle School Count? (Read the recap)
Empowering Futures: The Transformative Power of Entrepreneurship in Education (Read the recap)
Town Hall Recap: The Landscape of Credentialing Experiences (Read the recap)
Revolutionizing Career Education: Insights and Investment Trends Shaping the Future (Read the recap)