#year up

[bingoboingobongo]

i hate that i keep getting these stupid year up ads on tumblr what happened to my ball shavers

[lovealishadawn]

PAID SCHOOLING/INTERNSHIP

That’s right, you heard me.

Currently I’m in a program called Year Up, that takes low-income adults ages 18-24, and actually pays them for six months of schooling and then six months of internship.

This is not a scam. There are several locations nation-wide and it is extremely worth it to see if there’s one in your area.

The one I’m in focuses on IT skills and teaches you stuff like how to act in interviews, how to dress professionally, all that kind of stuff you wish they’d have taught you in high school. Plus I’m getting 27 college credits from this program, and am getting free certifications in MTA and MOS.

On top of that, there is an unbelievable amount of support for everybody of all backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations, etc. If there was ever anything that I believed in really strongly, it would be this program.

Please go to an information session if you are nearby one of the Year Up locations. It will change your life for the better and will get you a much better job and connections. You can start by going to yearup.org/apply

And then message me, because I want to see how it goes.

[harvardbusinessschool]

Gerald Chertavian (MBA 1992), founder and CEO of Year Up, sees innercity youths as critical components of the US economy and competitiveness. 

For more stories, visit http://alumni.hbs.edu/makingadifference.

[flonyc]

"The future is plump with promise." - Maya Angelou

Today, I got to speak at the Year Up graduation program, in front of many young adults ready for tomorrow's opportunities.

I’m not the only member of Team de Blasio who is praising Year Up. The success of this program -- your success -- is influencing policymakers throughout City government.

 In fact, back in November, our Mayor announced a major shift in the way the City helps New Yorkers prepare to land good jobs. A major part of the plan is work-based learning for young people.

And the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, which I lead as Chair, has also been studying the Year Up model. Yes, we do talk about you all. When we consider what works best in the kind of programs we want to support, Year Up is always part of the conversation.

So, my point is this: All of you are pioneers, in the movement to prepare young New Yorkers for the jobs of tomorrow.

To steal a phrase from the oath the graduates will recite later -- all of you are LIFTING up others while CLIMBING toward your dreams. 

I know that the climb has not always been easy. Each and every graduate has overcome BIG obstacles on the journey here. And I can relate. My own journey to this day, to be able to stand here at this podium was not smooth.

I was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1954. My mother’s parents were immigrants from Barbados. My father’s family came from the south. And he was a veteran of World War II.

My mother pretty much grew up without a mother, and my father grew up without a father. So they didn’t have a lot of reference points when it came to being parents. But they did their best. And even though neither one of them went to college, they understood the value of education. 

My parents made great sacrifices to make sure my siblings and I attended high-quality public schools. And their sacrifices paid off. I got a good education. But it wasn’t easy.

If I had to sum up my school experience in one word, it would be “only.” I was always the only black student in my class. And there was a stretch when I was the only black student in the entire SCHOOL.

Unfortunately, my peers never let me forget that I was different. They bullied me. They chased me around the playground. And when they grew tired of tormenting me, they pretended I didn’t exist. 

So, I was lonely. I was angry. I was downright miserable.

But whenever I felt like I just couldn’t handle my emotions anymore, someone was there for me. 

Sometimes it was my parents. But there were also people like Marge at the Girls Club or Brian at the YMCA who saw an emerging leader in me, where most people –myself included – saw a quiet, uncertain, little girl.

There were people like Frank Hatchett at the Dunbar Community Center, who taught me to channel my joys and frustrations into dance.

And people like my high school guidance counselor, who encouraged me to apply to Wellesley College, where the trajectory of my life was altered forever.

All of you, have people like that in your lives. In fact, many of them are in this room today: your parents and guardians… your mentors… your supervisor… and the staff of Year Up New York. They’re here today, because they care deeply about you.

Which brings me to my first piece of advice: Don't be afraid to ask your supporters for help. Nobody gets up the mountain alone. And it’s teamwork that makes the climb worthwhile.

My second piece of advice is to make the most of this moment in your life.

It’s a special moment, and you don’t want to waste it. 

I’m reminded of a Maya Angelou quote that I’ve always loved: “The future is plump with promise.”

Well, right now, your future is not just plump – it is practically BURSTING with opportunities.

But you need to pluck them up now, while they’re still ripe. NOW is the time to get your college degree. And NOW is the time to start a fulfilling career. 

So if you have a job lined up, give it your very best, each and every day. 

If you DO NOT have a job yet, don’t get discouraged. You now have the resume AND the skills to land a great one.

And don’t let the college credits you have earned at Year Up go to waste. Enroll in more classes as soon as you can – and get that degree.

It’s the best investment you’ll ever make. I know, you’ve probably heard that a thousand times, but that doesn’t make it any less true. College is where I learned how to LEARN – and that’s a skill I use each and every day.

That’s all the advice I have for you today. I know everyone is eager – as you should be -- to get to the main event – honoring the graduates.

As I look out at all the beautiful faces in this audience, I feel better than ever about the next generation of New Yorkers.

The future of our city is in good hands. And don’t let anybody tell you differently.

Good luck, Godspeed, and congratulations!

[fosterskills-blog]

Mayor Walsh and State Rep. Fox support innovative efforts that empower foster youth

[coolafrobot]

Three Terrific (Non-technical) Things Year Up Taught Me

Before I began Year Up I didn’t know that it would provide me with so much knowledge. I expected to learn more about tech of course, however, I didn’t expect to learn so much about myself through the program. I want to share three lessons that will reveal why the first six months of the program are really called the Learning and Development phase.

1. Ask for what you want

As a child one of my favorite proverbs was “a closed mouth doesn’t get fed.” One would think I learned this lesson early on considering how frequently I heard it. How will people know what you’re interested in if you don’t tell them? How will the decision-makers in your career know where to place you? Yes, lots of things in life are random and beyond our control but we have control over how we communicate.  I quickly applied for every opportunity I was offered at Year Up. I got to meet inspiring people, learn some coding, receive guidance, advice and instruction simply because I asked for it.

2. Preparation and Luck

The character Frank Underwood from the Netflix series “House of Cards” said, “My father believed that success is a mixture of preparation and luck.” I agree with this idea. My experience at Year Up has proven it to be true. I’ve seen people drop out of the program because they didn’t know how to prepare. They missed deadlines, and regularly showed up late because they couldn’t plot out a path to success. Success requires these things. It also requires luck. Luck is at least 50% of the reason I’m in Year Up at all. My girlfriend told me about Year Up. She saw an outreach presentation while working as a teaching assistant at a high school last winter. When I looked at the Year Up website I was struck with awe, excitement, and dread. I dreaded not making the cut this spring because the YU age limit is 24 and I was 24 and 9 months at the time. We all need to be as prepared as possible and that will enable luck to bring us towards success.

3. Feedback

Once a week we gather as a community to deliver and receive constructive feedback from our colleagues. There are guidelines for giving and receiving feedback so that the entire exercise is done respectfully and with a spirit of guidance toward success. I wasn't very open to feedback before Year Up. I accepted very specific and considerate critiques, but I was much more cautious of direct on the spot feedback and public feedback. I was afraid to give feedback to my peers and especially to instructors and facilitators. Now I’ve seen good, bad, and great examples of feedback in a professional space and I feel prepared to use it moving forward. It is essential to any positive professional environment that people are given honest, timely information on their performance. Feedback stimulates growth in specific areas and can root out disruptive behaviors before they grow into something truly negative.

[yearupexampleblog-blog]

YEAR UP: PRESS RELEASE

Year Up Chicago presents Morningstar Inc. with the Urban Empowerment Award the Class of January 2014 Graduation. Wednesday, January 29th, 2014 / Chicago — Year Up Chicago is honored to present Morningstar Inc with the January 2014 Urban Empowerment Award. Morningstar continuously exemplifies their strong belief in Year Up’s mission through their support of our program. They have hosted multiple cycles of Year Up Chicago interns, they have hired Year Up Chicago graduates, and many of their staff members have served as mentors and volunteers, and donors to the Year Up program. Morningstar executives serve on Year Up Chicago’s Technology Advisory Council and on Year Up Chicago’s Leadership Council. Overall, Morningstar has provided an incredibly supportive environment for Year Up Chicago students and interns, where they can explore their interests in technology and learn valuable skills.