logo
    • Magazine
    • Membership
    • Donate
  • Racial Justice
  • Economic Justice
    • Collections
  • Climate Justice
  • Health Justice
  • Leadership
  • CONTENT TYPES
  • Subscribe
  • Webinars
    • Upcoming Webinars
    • Complimentary Webinars
    • Premium On-Demand Webinars
  • Membership
  • Submissions

New York Times Highlights Nonprofits’ Value for Disconnected Youths

Nancy Young and Erin Rubin
November 13, 2017
Share
Tweet
Share
Email
Print

November 6th, 2017; New York Times

Using the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy’s recent release of its Annual High Impact Giving Guide as a springboard, last week The New York Times ran a short series in the Business section on the role that highly effective nonprofits play for young people who have become disconnected from educational organizations and/or employment services. Relaying the Social Science Research Council’s finding that nearly one in eight people between the ages of 16 and 24 are considered disconnected, the two-part series focuses on the support that four national nonprofits have provided to four tenacious individuals who are now carving out their futures.

Significantly, the piece gives each individual space to speak for him or herself with a note that some condensing and editing have been done. Chris, 19, of Chelsea, Mass, says referring to Youth Villages, “They actually talk to you as if you’re an adult, not just an appointment.” He adds, “I’m not fully on my feet, but Youth Villages gave me the tools. Now I need to use the tools to survive.” Echoing this same appreciation for the respect that he found from a nonprofit, Rodney Alston Jr., 24, of New York City says about the Center for Employment Opportunities, “C.E.O. helped me learn to control my temper, they asked me about my life—they actually worried about me, my family.”  Maria Carrera, 28, of New York City describes how her immigration status kept her in a kind of holding pattern until she was able to get into Year Up, which has since helped her to figure out a path to a career in banking. Aineias Clanton, 22, of Philadelphia, talks about how proud he is of his role as a co-parent and includes a photo of himself holding his daughter at his YouthBuild graduation.

For broader context on the collective role of these effective nonprofits, the Times cites Mark E. Courtney, a professor at the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration who explains, “Social policy change is also needed.” Expanding on a familiar issue for people in the nonprofit field, he adds, nonprofits “are only able to serve a small proportion of the population who could benefit from them.” Still, he explains, “These programs do what good parents do: They have faith that we will do well in the world.” Courtney also shares feedback from participants from these programs, which he says, is typically: “I was welcome, they had faith in me, they’re not afraid of me.” He told the Times, “that’s really important, because the messages they get from society is the opposite.”

Sign up for our free newsletters

Subscribe to NPQ's newsletters to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from NPQ and our partners.

Interestingly, in both parts of this series, the Times includes a text box with a note asking readers to share any related stories that they may have about help they themselves have received in times of need:

At a time when philanthropic giving is focused on impact, The New York Times would like to hear from people who have received help after going through a personal loss, such as that of a friend or family member, or a natural disaster. Please share your story using the form below. Your comments may be published, but your contact information will not.

This is typical of the New York Times in the last couple of years; the paper frequently asks readers for stories related to newsworthy events or situations, such as survivors of mass killings, teens coping with anxiety, or immigrants who’ve won diversity visas. However, for a paper of record like the New York Times to humanize the oft-lamented disconnected youth and emphasize the value of treating them with respect is significant. To put the onus of reengaging these youths on the society that left them behind, rather than on their overburdened backs, marks a significant shift (or at least a helpful push) in the right direction, and we’re pleased to see it. —Anne Eigeman

Disclosure: A member of NPQ’s board of directors is on the leadership staff at Youth Villages.

Share
Tweet
Share
Email
Print
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Nancy Young

Nancy Young is an independent writer and editor who works with nonprofit groups who work in and for Haiti, primarily in the Cite Soleil section of Port-au-Prince and the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti. Previously she was an editor and reporter at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, VA.

Erin Rubin

Erin Rubin was an assistant editor at the Nonprofit Quarterly, where she was in charge of online editorial coordination and community building. Before joining NPQ, in 2016, Erin worked as an administrator at Harvard Business School and as an editorial project manager at Pearson Education, where she helped develop a digital resource library for remedial learners. Erin has also worked with David R. Godine, Publishers, and the Association of Literary Scholars, Critics, and Writers. As a creative lead with the TEDxBeaconStreet organizing team, she worked to help innovators and changemakers share their groundbreaking ideas and turn them into action.

More about: community engagement youth programsNonprofit NewsPhilanthropy

Become a member

Support independent journalism and knowledge creation for civil society. Become a member of Nonprofit Quarterly.

Members receive unlimited access to our archived and upcoming digital content. NPQ is the leading journal in the nonprofit sector written by social change experts. Gain access to our exclusive library of online courses led by thought leaders and educators providing contextualized information to help nonprofit practitioners make sense of changing conditions and improve infra-structure in their organizations.

Join Today
logo logo logo logo logo
See comments

NPQ_Winter_2022Subscribe Today
You might also like
Why Social Change Films Matter
Cyndi Suarez and Saphia Suarez
Philanthropy Must Move from Charity to Solidarity
Son Chau
Eliminating Biphobia Through Breath, Brotherhood, and the Arts
H. “Herukhuti” Sharif Williams
Using a Data-Driven Strategy to Advance Racial Equity in Grantmaking
Heather Lenz, Ariel Jordan and Catherine Smith
Protecting Nonprofits That Protect Us During Crises—and Beyond
Aisha Benson and Jen Talansky
Reimagining Philanthropy to Build a Culture of Repair
Aria Florant and Venneikia Williams

Popular Webinars

Remaking the Economy

Black Food Sovereignty, Community Stories

Register Now

Combating Disinformation and Misinformation in 21st-Century Social Movements

Register Now

Remaking the Economy

Closing the Racial Wealth Gap

Register Now
You might also like
Why Social Change Films Matter
Cyndi Suarez and Saphia Suarez
Philanthropy Must Move from Charity to Solidarity
Son Chau
Eliminating Biphobia Through Breath, Brotherhood, and the...
H. “Herukhuti” Sharif Williams

Like what you see?

Subscribe to the NPQ newsletter to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

See our newsletters

By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from NPQ and our partners.

Independent & in your mailbox.

Subscribe today and get a full year of NPQ for just $59.

subscribe
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Copyright
  • Careers

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

 

Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.