Across the country, too few youth leave high school ready for success. Community statistics and conditions vary, but there is no community across the country that is doing well enough by its children and youth. There is a need to do more. More to the point, there is a need to do better – to make bolder commitments, to create broader ownership and partnerships, to ensure greater returns on public and private investments.

The Forum for Youth Investment convened a group of key stakeholders in Louisville, KY at the Neighborhood House in an effort to assist these community and state leaders with aligning their youth efforts into a big picture framework.

On July 24 at the New Orleans Convention Center, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) held a session for 150 legislators entitled ‘Investing in Our Future: The Status of America’s Youth’. Panelists included Elizabeth Gaines of the Forum, Senator Appel of Iowa, Representative Roberts of Colorado and Representative Walker of Connecticut.

The Forum for Youth Investment has partnered with Corporate Voices for Working Families to support a Youth Transitions Task Force charged with identifying and promoting the corporate and public policies necessary to ensure that young people ages 14-21 have the opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in work and in life.

The Mayor's Youth Council provides Boston's young people with an active role in addressing youth issues. High school juniors and seniors are selected to serve as volunteer representatives of every neighborhood in the city.

The State of Iowa Youth Action Committee (SIYAC), is a nonpartisan policy-advisory organization consisting of 15-17 high school students from across the state.