OUR VISION
In the future, every urban young adult will have access to the education, experiences, and guidance required to realize his or her true potential.

OUR MISSION
Year Up's mission is to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education.

We achieve this mission through a high support, high expectation model that combines marketable job skills, stipends, internships and college credits. Our holistic approach focuses on students' professional and personal development to place these young adults on a viable path to economic self-sufficiency.

Year Up currently serves more than 1,000 students a year at sites in Atlanta, Baltimore*, Boston, Chicago, Providence, Puget Sound, New York City, San Francisco Bay Area and National Capital Region

* College Based Program

OUR PROGRAM
Year Up is a one-year, intensive training program that provides urban young adults, ages 18-24, with a combination of hands-on skill development, college credits, and corporate internships.

During the first six months of the program, participants focus on skill mastery in one of two areas: 1) Desktop Support / IT Help Desk; 2) Investment Operations. Equal emphasis is placed on developing the professional skills required in today's workplace such as effective communication, leadership, and teamwork.

During the second six months of the program, students are placed in internships with local partner companies. A stipend is provided to all participants throughout the one-year, full-time educational program.

OUR RESULTS
We have achieved excellent results to date:

• 100% placement of qualified students into internships
• 95% of interns meet or exceed partner expectations
• 84% of graduates employed or in college full time within
  four months of graduation
• $15/hr average wage at placement

Source:  2008 - 2009 organization-wide results.