Year Up Kicks-Off National 'Walk for Opportunity'

America's leading corporations join the national nonprofit to focus attention on the growing shortage of US 21st century skilled workers -- and the need to train young adults to bridge this gap

BOSTON, May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an effort to close the Opportunity Divide and promote a solution for the skilled talent shortage threatening US companies, Year Up today kicks-off its annual "Walk for Opportunity." At this event, Year Up students, teachers, staff, community and partner companies – including executives from corporate supporters such as Bank of America, Walmart, JP Morgan Chase, CA, State Street, Wells Fargo and others – are walking in six US states.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation projects a shortfall of 14 million knowledge workers necessary to fuel the US economy over the next 10 years. At the same time, the Walk is bolstering visibility for Year Up's mission to close the Opportunity Divide – a gulf borne from lack of access to quality education, resources, and support that prevents 4.4 million low income young adults from making the most of their potential. By providing these young adults with skills and experience, not only are they empowered to reach their potential through professional careers and post-secondary credential attainment, but they in turn provide US companies with the talent necessary to remain competitive.

"Training and education of young workers is essential in keeping the US economy competitive on a global scale," said Jim Cochran, Managing Director and Head of Global Recruiting for Treasury and Securities Services, JP Morgan, and the grand marshal of Year Up New York's Walk for Opportunity. "Our partnership with Year Up not only satisfies our own need for skilled entry-level professional talent, but it also helps us address some of the nation's biggest social challenges."

The Walk for Opportunity is being held in six US cities, including Atlanta, Boston, New York City, Providence, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. Additional and local information on the Walk can be found at: www.yearup.org/walkforopportunity.    

"Year Up's Walk for Opportunity represents a united understanding that not only is Corporate America facing a growing shortage of US skilled labor, but that the solution lies in the unrealized talent of 4.4 million low-income young adults," said Gerald Chertavian, founder and CEO of Year Up. "By providing these individuals with access to resources and education, we can help them achieve their dream of establishing a family sustaining career and successfully pursuing post secondary credentials, while we supply our partner companies with this untapped pipeline of local talent."

About Year Up, Inc.

Year Up's mission is to close the Opportunity Divide by providing low income young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education. Year Up achieves this mission through a high support, high expectation model that combines marketable job skills, stipends, internships, college credit, a behavior management system and several levels of support to place these young adults on a viable path to economic self-sufficiency. Year Up currently serves more than 1,000 students a year at sites in Atlanta, Boston, Providence, New York City, San Francisco, and the National Capital Region, and will be opening in Chicago, Baltimore and Seattle in the year ahead. To learn more, visit www.yearup.org. www.youtube.com/yearupinc

SOURCE Year Up, Inc.