BACKGROUND Year Up was founded on the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to realize his or her potential. An individual's ability to succeed is unlimited, yet for many of our nation's urban young adults, this potential is never realized. This is not due to a lack of commitment, intelligence or ability - it results from not having what we at Year Up call a "stepladder" for the future. 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 - To prepare urban young adults for life and work in our technology-driven society. - To guide urban young adults toward successful and rewarding careers and higher education. CHALLENGES FACING URBAN YOUTH The widespread application of computer technology has changed labor requirements across industries (Autor, Levy and Murnane 2001). Nearly every sector is experiencing demand for workers, who have both up-to-date technical know-how, and the ability to communicate effectively, solve problems and learn rapidly as technology changes. These positions often require a higher degree of professionalism than other entry-level positions. Furthermore, a postsecondary credential (college degree or certification in a technical field) has essentially become a requirement for a career with a livable wage. Nearly 70% of all new jobs-and virtually all jobs that offer wages sufficient to support a family-require at least some education and training beyond high school, even at the entry-level (Carnevale and Reich 2000). Individuals with a college degree earn significantly more than those with only a high school degree; for young men, the differential averages $1,200,000 in lifetime earnings. Even one year of postsecondary education increases lifetime earnings by 5% to 15% per year. At the same time, the country's fastest growing demographic groups (Latinos and African Americans) are receiving comparatively less education. 29% of Latinos and 15% of African Americans drop out of high school. As a result, a growing number of low-income, minority youth leave high school lacking either the credentials and/or the skills to advance toward a college degree-essentially guaranteeing that they will struggle to earn a family-supporting income in today's economy. Many will enter college only to become discouraged and drop out; others will cycle in and out of job training and adult education programs, never getting beyond low-paying jobs with little prospect of advancement. Without proper guidance and opportunities, these young adults will continue to face enormous challenges in transitioning from high school to achievement in successful careers and higher education. MEETING THE CHALLENGES To help address these challenges, Year Up was founded in October 2000 by Gerald Chertavian as a one-year intensive education and internship program for urban young adults aged 18-24 in Greater Boston. Year Up's program recognizes that both job skills (technical and professional) and higher education are necessary to provide a viable path to economic self-sufficiency. Our mission is to prepare these young adults for successful careers and higher education.