Deputy Secretary Jim Shelton will give keynote remarks at the Aspen Institute’s convening of the inaugural grantees of its Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund at 9:15 a.m. MT on Tuesday, Oct. 28, in Aspen, Colorado. Shelton will discuss President Obama’s agenda for creating ladders of opportunity for all Americans, the My Brother’s Keeper initiative aimed at creating pathways to success for men and boys of color, and other Administration initiatives and programs focusing on innovative strategies to improve outcomes for youth.
The Aspen Institute’s convening brings together their 21 Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund grantees that received awards in 2013 to improve opportunities and outcomes for youth, ages 16-24, who are disconnected from education and work. Located in cities and towns across the country, from the Hopi reservation in Arizona to rural Maine, and including Chicago, New Orleans, Baltimore, New York, and Detroit, among others, each grant involves community stakeholders working together to harness the power of cross-sector collaborations. Grantees will discuss emerging best practices in building opportunities for youth.
The Obama Administration strongly believes that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and education is crucial to the economic strength and security of our nation and communities. The Department of Education’s work is focused on ensuring all students receive an education that prepares them for success in life and their career, through programs including Promise Neighborhoods, School Improvement Grants, Race to the Top, and ConnectED, as well as ED's work to expand access to preschool and make college more affordable.