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PERSPECTIVES

Pathways to Progress: Year One Update

March 31, 2015
Ed Skyler, Executive Vice President | Enterprise Services and Public Affairs
Brandee McHale, Head of Community Investing and Development at Citi and President of the Citi Foundation

 

One year ago, the Citi Foundation launched Pathways to Progress, a three-year, $50 million initiative to provide 100,000 low-income young people in the United States with opportunities to develop workplace and leadership skills critical to competing in a 21st century economy. It was the largest commitment in our Foundation's history. We focused on 10 of the largest U.S. cities, working alongside community partners, government leaders on the federal and local level, and Citi volunteers to deliver high-impact programs that help put young people on the road to professional and economic success.

 

One year in, the results are encouraging: nearly 25,000 have already benefited from the program. In addition, we have helped cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset in young people through nearly 42,000 hours of business training; enabled 1,200 kids to develop leadership skills and connect with their communities through service projects; and provided students with professional and educational guidance and one-on-one mentoring opportunities through more than 4,800 hours of Citi volunteer support. Find out more Year One Highlights here.

More inspiring than the numbers are the individual stories of progress. Participants such as Miles, who implemented the entrepreneurship training he received in Los Angeles to develop his own new app aimed at helping make financial advice more accessible. Or Artem, a New York City student who obtained his first summer job experience via Pathways.

Pathways to Progress enables young people to positively impact their cities. We know that a prepared workforce is critical to the economic health of urban centers, and cities are the perfect testing ground for innovations.

As we move into Pathways' second year, we are committed to deepening our engagement – from providing additional summer jobs to young people in more cities and further investing in innovative ideas that test new ways of preparing youth for the world of work. We look forward to sharing many more stories of progress with you as we continue this journey.

Watch this video to learn more about Pathways to Progress. Please visit the Citi Foundation website for more information.

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