American Student Assistance

For high schoolers, access to quality career education and information crucial for making informed decision and and avoid underemployment after graduation. Read this article by Getting Smart to learn more about the importance of ensuring that students have the tools and information they need to succeed in a fulfilling career.

Dwayne Dixon Jr. and I had the opportunity to participate in the?Dream Summit Chicago, led by?Free to Dream,?Common and the American Student Assistance?last weekend. The event brought together Chicago area high school juniors and seniors, with passionate changemakers to explore new ways to inspire and empower young people to achieve their dreams! Special thanks to Byron K. Sanders and Erin Offord, CEO of Big Thought, for inviting ASP of Chicago to contribute to a movement that aligns so deeply with our mission of transforming lives through performance and community. Congratulations?to Kara May, Founding Principal of the beautiful Art in Motion Creative Art School for hosting such a visionary gathering. Here’s to dreaming big and making change together! #iamFREETODREAM cc: All Stars Project, Inc. Chris Street David Cherry Johari Shuck, Ph.D. Antoine Joyce-Roach

Steve Lohr’s latest The New York Times article highlights how programs like Year Up United, in partnership with leading companies like JPMorganChase, are unlocking pathways to economic mobility for young adults without four-year degrees. Read the full New York Times article here: https://lnkd.in/gW7x9fKM The article spotlights Isaiah Mowbray, a Year Up United alum who began his journey with an internship at JPMorgan Chase. Now a Senior Software Engineer, Isaiah reflects on his success: “I come into work every day trying to be open to new things and give it my all tackling new tasks and challenges.” His story exemplifies the transformative impact of opportunity, mentorship, and hard work. For untapped talent looking to enter and navigate the world of work, having the right in-demand skills and the knowledge and support to make confident decisions about a job or career is critical. As the article highlights, the latest research from American Student Assistance and The Burning Glass Institute studied the careers of millions of workers who went directly to work after high school to identify the Launchpad Jobs that offer the best chances of long-term success, including skills training with workforce development organizations, like Year Up United. The success of our alumni community underscores the power of harnessing the potential of young people and the sustainable impact of skills-first hiring through their continued career success. #OpportunityDivide #YearUpUnited #JPMorganChase #EconomicMobility #TalentPipeline

As a strategy, skills-based hiring has attracted significant national attention and has led to commitments from nearly 100 Fortune 1000 companies, but this approach has not seen a major uptick in popularity. The question is, how can this enthusiasm be converted into action? Jobs for the Future (JFF) interviewed 40 practitioners, business leaders, tech entrepreneurs, academic experts, and policymakers to gain insight on how to move towards a skills-based approach to recruiting talent. Learn more:

ASA and The DeBruce Foundation teamed up to develop and deliver engaging career literacy resources for teens through our free skill-building and career experimentation platform, EvolveMe?. How did users engage with #EvolveMe, and did they find it to be a useful tool for planning their future? Read our case study for insights on what students think about #careerexploration, what they wish adults knew, and what it takes to get young people to take action.

?? Did you know that almost 1 in 5 workers without a degree out-earn the median college graduate? Plus, around two million nondegree workers are pulling in over $100,000 per year... This groundbreaking new research from American Student Assistance and The Burning Glass Institute tracked the career paths of millions of nondegree workers and uncovered systematic patterns of success. ?? One key takeaway? The first job out of high school is a critical choice that can set the stage for a thriving career. Yet today, which career path a student follows often comes down to luck. This report dives into the common roles nondegree workers take on, and shares best practices on how to spread the word about the breadth of quality job opportunities available to young people. I encourage you to read the full report (link in the comments??), and I'm eager to know your thoughts. What was your "launchpad job" that put you on a path to career success? What were the key skills you learned at that job that allowed you to step into your strengths? #CareerDevelopmentMonth

The New York Times and Steve Lohr covered important new research from The Burning Glass Institute and American Student Assistance on "launchpad" jobs--the professions that, above other career paths, provide young people with more opportunity for promotion and career mobility, decent pay, good benefits, and job security. The findings in "Launchpad Jobs: Achieving Career and Economic Success without a Degree" show that not all professions are created equal and guidance and data around pathways to success for the 40% of Americans who do not go to college is essential to build a more inclusive and healthier workforce. Many thanks to The Burning Glass Institute, Matt Sigelman, Carlo Salerno, and Shrinidhi Rao for the opportunity to work with them on the launch of this important report. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/evsJDvF7 Read the NYT article: https://lnkd.in/e6P7nSMZ #launchpadjobs #careers #economics #education #skills #jobs

What would it take to make a credentialing system that truly opens doors for students? Our very own Julie Lammers will be participating in a discussion during Getting Smart's Town Hall TODAY at 3 PM EST on rethinking credentialing in a way that's beneficial for students, educators, and employers. Featuring: Nate McClennen, author and facilitator Julie Lammers, ASA Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, The DeBruce Foundation Ian Z., SchoolJoy Don't miss out:

Did you know nearly 1 in 5 workers without a degree out-earn the median college graduate, and around 2 million nondegree workers earn over $100k per year? Our new report with The Burning Glass Institute highlights the power of “launchpad jobs”—entry-level roles that offer upward mobility, solid pay, and job security. Read the report, "Launchpad Jobs: Achieving Career and Economic Success Without a Degree," here: https://bit.ly/3CDOnuI To learn more, check out this article in the The New York Times diving into the report: https://bit.ly/4g01Ziq

Our Program Director, Rachel Boemer, who also serves as Co-Chair of Construction Forum’s Transportation Workgroup, had the privilege of participating in today’s “Constructing Solutions Transportation Challenge”—an inspiring event that brought together 80+ high school students from the CAPS Network. Organized by Construction Forum in collaboration with the CAPS team and generously sponsored by American Student Assistance (ASA), this event highlighted the crucial connection between transportation skills and career readiness, particularly in the construction industry. With only 40% of Missouri teens holding driver’s licenses and no state-mandated driver’s education, the challenge aimed to bridge the gap in transportation literacy. Students worked in teams to create social media pitches that would encourage their peers to understand the importance of obtaining a drivers license: ? Serves as a key form of identification ? Opens doors to job opportunities ? Supports financial independence and career growth The winning teams earned gas gift cards and the opportunity for their pitches to come to fruition! Be sure to tune into KMOV-TV Channel 4 to catch the story on today’s event!! We’re proud to help empower the next generation with the tools they need for success—on and off the job site! #BuildingTheFoundationForChange