Youth Service America

Helping youth acquire the skills they need to be successful in school, work, and life.

The Problem

There is a gap between what youth are learning and what skills are needed to thrive in the 21st Century. The “soft skills” that businesses increasingly need — empathy, critical thinking, communication, creativity, collaboration — are in short supply; 77% of CEOs worry that skills shortages could hurt their company’s growth. But the current education system — with its heavy emphasis on state requirements and testing, and its lecture-style teaching — is not set up to teach these skills. After-school programs could fill the gap, but in many underserved communities they barely exist.

The Solution

Through the #LeadASAP program, Youth Service America is seeking to “activate 500,000 youth to find their voice, take action, and improve their communities.” YSA awards grants, and delivering training, technical assistance works with schools, youth development organizations, and community based organizations to equip youth to create and lead effective high-quality service projects aimed at solving real-world problems. The idea is that through service to their community, youth gain the skills they need to thrive. YSA partner organizations and schools serve more than 40 million American youth, on the principle that “every young person deserves the opportunity to acquire the skills they need to be successful in school, work, and life.”