Advent in the community
 

 
Opportunity divide

In today's challenging economic environment, most new jobs, particularly those that offer the wages and long-term prospects needed to support a family, require advanced training and education.

Urban American youth aged 18-24 receive less education and have fewer opportunities to acquire business credentials and skills than suburban and rural peers. This leads to an economic divide, where these young people may face a lifetime of low-paying jobs with little chance for advancement.

Without guidance on how to access educational opportunities, and role models to provide inspiration, direction and encouragement, these young adults will continue to face enormous challenges throughout their working lives.

Path to opportunity

Award-winning educational program Year Up recognizes that job skills and higher education are required for these young people to have a viable path to economic self-sufficiency.

Its intensive one-year program, which is funded by corporate sponsors, provides students with the technical and professional skills, work experience and support to go on to a professional career or higher education in the IT or finance fields.

Students spend the first six months of the program in the classroom. This initial learning and development phase builds the foundation of knowledge and skills in preparation for internships with for-profit and non-profit organizations that act as partners to Year Up, and beyond. While expectations of students are high, Year

Up’s instructors also work to build their confidence and challenge them to achieve their potential.

Transforming lives

Advent has been working in partnership with Year Up in Boston since 2008, bringing in two interns a year to the IT department. “We deeply appreciate Advent’s involvement,” said Bill Davidge, Director of Corporate Partnerships at Year Up. “Year Up likes to be known by the companies we keep, and Advent International is a fine example of that. For the past six cohorts Advent has supported our mission to bridge and close the opportunity divide for Boston’s inner city youth.”

To provide a good fit Year Up consults its corporate partners on the curriculum of the students, so that knowledge and skills are relevant to business requirements. The students are also coached on the soft skills that are expected in a corporate environment, which in most cases they will be entering for the first time in their lives.

Rene Feliciano was our first Year Up intern in June 2008, and a year later, he became our first Year Up hire. “Year Up got me ready to work in a corporate office like Advent’s,” he said. “I was nervous at first, but everybody here was very caring. They made me feel like part of the family.”

His experiences with Advent have given Rene broader horizons and a new perspective on his career potential. “Since I started working at Advent, I’ve been to Berlin, Brazil and Mexico. I am learning new things every day in a supportive environment. Going back to school and getting more qualifications are options for me now. Being in the Year Up program and working at Advent has really changed my life.”

Providing students with strong professional and emotional support as they deal with change is an important part of the Year Up experience. Part of our participation in the Year Up program is to mentor students not interning at Advent. For the past two years Associate Catie Bennett has been mentor to student Eve.

“Eve doesn’t have much of a support network around her. I try to keep her motivated and give her guidance. Now she’s finished the program and she’s going to college to get more qualifications, which is a good step forward for her.” Catie chose to mentor to recognize those people who similarly helped with her career. “Mentors have been hugely helpful in giving me career advice. I am glad I can do the same for Eve through Year Up.”

A joint success

Partnering with Year Up has produced results for everyone involved. The students gain the skills, experience and support they need to realize their potential. The benefits for Advent include a pipeline of screened, trained talent that has already produced two permanent hires in IT.

“We want to attract talented people and we get a high caliber of candidates through Year Up,” says Bill Marshall, Director of Information Services for Advent. “Without a lot of support or inspiration, they have had to work hard and be competitive just to gain entry into the program. I really admire the character of these students.”

In collaboration with Year Up, we are now exploring ways to replicate this model in other locations, such as London, to empower students to pursue a path of opportunities that can change their lives.