OpportunityNation | Blog http://www.opportunitynation.org/ en Copyright 2013 2013-05-20T15:40:08+00:00 Three dynamic programs in Miami connect, inspire youth http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/three-dynamic-programs-in-miami-connect-inspire-youth http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/three-dynamic-programs-in-miami-connect-inspire-youth Opportunity Nation learned about three innovative programs that provide mentoring and skills to young people during a May visit to Miami

]]> 2013-05-20T15:40:08+00:00 Bipartisan American Dream Accounts Act celebrated at event co-hosted by Opportunity Nation and CFED http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/bipartisan-american-dreams-act-submitted-by-senators-coons-and-rubio http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/bipartisan-american-dreams-act-submitted-by-senators-coons-and-rubio Florida Republican Marco Rubio and Delaware Democrat Chris Coons re-Introduce American Dream Accounts Act which would establish college savings accounts and financial literacy to low-income children.

]]> 2013-05-16T15:31:12+00:00 Great convening in Atlanta http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/great-convening-in-atlanta http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/great-convening-in-atlanta Opportunity Nation was thrilled to hold a productive community conversation in Atlanta on May 7. The event drew about 50 education, business and nonprofit leaders and is part of a series of gatherings in key cities across the country to learn more about on-the-ground efforts to promote opportunity and to share our tools and networks more widely.

]]> 2013-05-13T17:59:03+00:00 Opportunity in Iowa Summit Recap http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-in-iowa-summit-recap http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-in-iowa-summit-recap Earlier in April, civic, education, nonprofit and political leaders from across Central Iowa participated in Opportunity in Iowa: Closing the Gaps Between Youth and Economic Success, a forum held at Des Moines Area Community College.

]]> 2013-05-01T01:45:39+00:00 CAREER Act Introduced in Senate Today http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/career-act-introduced-in-senate-today http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/career-act-introduced-in-senate-today Today Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced the Careers Through Responsive, Efficient and Effective Retraining (CAREER) Act. The CAREER Act will improve the delivery of federal job training programs that help young people start on the path towards a career.

]]> 2013-04-24T17:35:38+00:00 Creating Opportunity in Texas http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/creating-opportunity-in-texas http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/creating-opportunity-in-texas Opportunity Scholar Advocates for Texas House Bill Supporting Workforce Training

]]> 2013-04-18T16:00:39+00:00 President Obama requests $71 billion for education, strengthening high schools, preschool http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/president-obama-requests-71-billion-for-education-strengthening-high-schoo http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/president-obama-requests-71-billion-for-education-strengthening-high-schoo It is finally budget week in Washington DC!

President Obama released his FY 2014 budget request Wednesday that includes resources that will create more robust education and career opportunities for youth.

The request closely aligns with Opportunity Nations policy recommendations that call for...

]]> 2013-04-10T19:03:41+00:00 Opportunity St. Paul hosts great community conversation http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-st.-paul-hosts-great-community-conversation http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-st.-paul-hosts-great-community-conversation Opportunity Nation travels to St. Paul; Hamline University joins our Higher Education Council; great local NPR interview

]]> 2013-04-10T14:46:27+00:00 Opportunity Quincy (Mass.) receives City Council commendation http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-quincy-mass.-receives-city-council-commendation http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-quincy-mass.-receives-city-council-commendation Opportunity Quincy's leader recognized for her work to foster collaboration and build education and job pathways for young people

]]> 2013-04-04T11:50:09+00:00 What’s the best way to rank a college? http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/whats-the-best-way-to-rank-a-college http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/whats-the-best-way-to-rank-a-college The popularity of US News & World Report's college rankings may obscure more meaningful measures of an institution's effectiveness

]]> Education, 2013-04-01T19:15:14+00:00 Trailblazing Coalition Partner Spurs Transformation in San Diego Neighborhood http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/trailblazing-coalition-partner-spurs-transformation-in-san-diego-neighborho http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/trailblazing-coalition-partner-spurs-transformation-in-san-diego-neighborho Opportunity Nation's coalition partners build and repair ladders of opportunity every day across the country. As we've learned from the Opportunity Index and our own lived experiences in all types of communities, place matters. Opportunities vary widely across counties, zip codes and neighborhoods. A trail-blazing partner in our coalition, the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, has sparked a transformation of a neighborhood in San Diego and we hope you will explore their work.

The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation (JCNI) and Jacobs Family Foundation (JFF) are partnering with resident teams in southeastern San Diego to transform 60 acres of blight into The Village at Market Creek, a LEED-certified neighborhood and vibrant cultural destination. Through a network of nonprofit and for-profit partners, locally-owned businesses and national tenants, a community and conference center, and a portfolio of social enterprise projects, JCNI and JFF are creating assets that will be transferred to community ownership when the foundation sunsets in 2030. Under the banner of “Resident Ownership of Neighborhood Change,” the people who live and work in the community create the vision, lead the implementation, and will own the assets related to this work.

To learn more about Place-Based Philanthropy like the work the Jacobs Center is leading, check out this paper here. 
To learn more about the Jacobs Center, go to: http://www.jacobscenter.org/home.html

]]> Philanthropy, 2013-03-29T13:46:08+00:00 Arkansas governor lauds Opportunity Leader Linda Nelson for her work http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/arkansas-governor-lauds-opportunity-leader-linda-nelson-for-her-work http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/arkansas-governor-lauds-opportunity-leader-linda-nelson-for-her-work Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe thanks Opportunity Leader Linda Nelson for her efforts in rural Ouachita County to boost Opportunity Index Score from C to C+

]]> Children and Familiies, Education, Healthy Communities, Jobs, 2013-03-26T17:36:35+00:00 Federal money scarce for education and job training programs http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/federal-money-scarce-for-education-and-job-training-programs http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/federal-money-scarce-for-education-and-job-training-programs Continuing resolution keeps government operating for another six months but fails to boster pathway programs for youth.

]]> Children and Familiies, Education, Jobs, 2013-03-22T18:05:09+00:00 Youth panel at Harvard shows power of pathways to change lives http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/youth-panel-at-harvard-shows-power-of-pathways-to-change-lives http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/youth-panel-at-harvard-shows-power-of-pathways-to-change-lives Young people inspire at Harvard's Pathways to Prosperity conference this week, focused on strengthening career and tech and other pathways to success

]]> 2013-03-20T17:00:12+00:00 President Obama nominates Thomas Perez as Labor Secretary http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/president-obama-nominates-thomas-perez-as-labor-secretary http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/president-obama-nominates-thomas-perez-as-labor-secretary Labor secretary nomination could be contentious.

]]> 2013-03-18T18:15:15+00:00 House passes WIA reauthorization, includes pay-for-performance amendment http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/house-passes-wia-reauthorization-includes-pay-for-performance-amendmen http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/house-passes-wia-reauthorization-includes-pay-for-performance-amendmen Opportunity Nation supports pay-for-performance models in which federal funding follows results

]]> 2013-03-15T19:10:25+00:00 Opportunity Nation and code.org want to foster technical skills http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-nation-and-code.org-want-to-foster-technical-skills http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-nation-and-code.org-want-to-foster-technical-skills Opportunity Leader Marquis Cabrera says learning to code in high school changed his life

]]> 2013-03-15T13:48:26+00:00 Indiana proclaims March Opportunity Month http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/indiana-proclaims-march-its-opportunity-month http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/indiana-proclaims-march-its-opportunity-month Indiana becomes second state to proclaim "Opportunity Month" to heighten awareness of the urgent need to increase economic mobility

]]> 2013-03-14T10:00:18+00:00 Turning the ship upstream - Philanthropy and Social Change http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/turning-the-ship-upstream-philanthropy-and-social-change1 http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/turning-the-ship-upstream-philanthropy-and-social-change1 Opportunity Nation staff speak at Boston conference on the power of policy in philanthropy

]]> 2013-03-13T16:46:09+00:00 Snowquester couldn’t squelch pay-for-performance progress http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/snowquester-couldnt-squelch-pay-for-performance-progress http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/snowquester-couldnt-squelch-pay-for-performance-progress Pay-for-performance step closer in federal job training fund

]]> 2013-03-08T10:03:37+00:00 House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/house-democratic-whip-steny-hoyer http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/house-democratic-whip-steny-hoyer Opportunity Nation is encouraged about the creation of a new task force on Poverty and Opportunity this week with a bold goal of cutting poverty in half in the next decade. The task force will work to raise public awareness about the circumstances facing low-income citizens and the barriers to economic mobility they face.

]]> 2013-02-27T21:57:09+00:00 Beasts Of The Southern Wild & The Opportunity Index http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/beasts-of-the-southern-wild-the-opportunity-index http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/beasts-of-the-southern-wild-the-opportunity-index Louisiana's poverty rate is several points above the national average.  As portrayed in the film, too many families are living below the poverty line. Additionally, Louisiana has a higher-than-average percentage of youth who are not in school and not working.

]]> 2013-02-25T17:56:06+00:00 Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Opportunity http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/los-angeles-mayor-antonio-villaraigosa-on-opportunity http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/los-angeles-mayor-antonio-villaraigosa-on-opportunity The local public high school was a “drop-out factory.” I was put into remedial classes, which I found boring and unchallenging after my previous education. But even worse than that, I felt like the school had given up on me. So, I gave up on myself and dropped out. My story could have ended there. I could have become one of my many peers who didn’t graduate.

]]> 2013-02-19T16:24:25+00:00 Moneythink and Opportunity Nation http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/moneythink-and-opportunity-nation http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/moneythink-and-opportunity-nation The Opportunity Nation summit in late 2011 affirmed my hunch. Surrounded by opportunity-obsessed changemakers for three days in Harlem, I realized just how strong and unified the group of people committed to making this country better really is. I met Leaders and Scholars and Speakers and Mentors who all felt the same way about closing this nation's opportunity gap: they were committed to closing it. Realizing that I wasn't alone in my desire to make an impact on such a giant issue--lack of opportunity in America--and fully inspired that we could do it if we all put our heads together, I committed then and there--in November 2011--to launching Moneythink as a full-time professional operation.

]]> 2013-02-19T14:30:24+00:00 Is Your City an All-Star? http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/is-your-city-an-all-star http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/is-your-city-an-all-star The NBA All-Star game engages millions of fans to become involved and Opportunity Nation wants to engage millions more to have a say at even higher stakes--restoring the American Dream. The fans held the power to choose some of the All-Star players by voting for them to be starters. Similarly, the everyday American can hold the power to make his or her county an All-Star and one day a MVP. Opportunity Leaders and Scholars are already embarking on this mission in their communities to restore the ladder of opportunity.

]]> 2013-02-15T20:38:07+00:00 Sequestration Hearing http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/sequestration-hearing http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/sequestration-hearing The Budget Control Act of 2011 established a 12 member Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction with the task of reducing the deficit by an additional $1.2 - $1.5 trillion over ten years. The legislation also included a sequestration hammer should the super committee fail, a provision intended as incentive for the Committee to act. Sequestration is a fiscal policy procedure adopted by Congress to deal with the federal budget deficit and is the cancellation of budgetary resources.

]]> 2013-02-15T15:02:29+00:00 Opportunity Narrative Spotlight: Mayor Michael Bloomberg http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-narrative-spotlight-mayor-michael-bloomberg http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-narrative-spotlight-mayor-michael-bloomberg Working his way up from an entry-level position on Wall Street to eventually becoming the Mayor in 2002, Bloomberg has a new set of opportunity related challenges to address in each of the five boroughs of New York City. The Opportunity Index scores for the five boroughs and their five separate counties vary. However, four of the five boroughs score lower than the New York state average in the education category.

]]> 2013-02-14T15:02:59+00:00 Opportunity Artist Of The Year? http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-artist-of-the-year http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-artist-of-the-year This Sunday marked the 55th annual Grammy Awards. Of course, we here at Opportunity Nation were watching the incredible performances and rooting for our favorite artists. But before the stars hit the red carpet, we decided to take a look at opportunity in the areas from which music's brightest lights emerged. Six artists tied for the most nominations, with each up to win six. We decided to ask the following question: today, what barriers to opportunity would the successors to these stars need to overcome, based on where they grew up and our Opportunity Index scores for those counties today?

]]> 2013-02-11T20:31:38+00:00 Opportunity Nation leaders Stuart Butler and Andrea Levere on the Financial Safety Net http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-nation-leaders-stuart-butler-and-andrea-levere-on-the-financial http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/opportunity-nation-leaders-stuart-butler-and-andrea-levere-on-the-financial We are proud to have individuals like Stuart Butler and Andrea Levere involved with Opportunity Nation.

]]> 2013-02-04T19:17:19+00:00 Tackling the Opportunity Gap in Baltimore and San Francisco http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/tackling-the-opportunity-gap-in-baltimore-and-san-francisco http://opportunitynation.org/blog/entry/tackling-the-opportunity-gap-in-baltimore-and-san-francisco This Sunday over 100 million Americans will watch the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers settle the score, but in these football teams’ respective cities, a different kind of score is worth our attention - their Opportunity Index Scores.

]]> 2013-02-03T20:21:00+00:00