Press & News
GradsofLifeVoice on Forbes.com
GradsofLifeVoice is a platform hosted on Forbes.com used to promote the social and business value of Opportunity Employment – a strategic approach to talent management that promotes economic opportunity and mobility for workers, especially Opportunity Talent (individuals who face barriers to employment and are historically overlooked by employers).
Target audiences: C-suite executives, HR executives, D.E.I executives, CSR executives, workforce development professionals, and Opportunity Talent.
Core themes: Opportunity Employment, the wealth and opportunity gaps, the skills gap, income inequality, workforce diversity, racial justice in Corporate America and innovative solutions to expand economic opportunity for Opportunity Talent.
Thus far, the blog has received nearly 24 million visits and includes posts from more than 180 different guest contributors, including employers, young adults, training providers and thought leaders in the workforce development space.
How to become a contributor
We are always looking for new content and would be excited to feature your voice about one or more of the core themes mentioned. Please reach out to Patrick Smith at psmith@gradsoflife.org to submit a piece and become a contributor.
- Content should highlight thought leadership, trends, insightful views, best practices, and/or inspirational stories within one or more of the core themes for target audiences.
- Pieces should be no more than 900 words
- Pieces can be re-purposed that have been written or published elsewhere (authors will be credited)
- A bio and headshot of contributors (2 max per piece) must be submitted beforehand
We can work with you to be a resource in helping you develop and design your piece, including writing headlines, suggesting images and outlining content ideas.
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Disrupting Economic And Racial Inequity With Three Practical Steps
Part two in a three-part series explores three thought leaders' insights and lessons learned in supporting Opportunity Talent—particularly Opportunity Youth—over the course of the pandemic, and what that might mean for the future.
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Why Employers Should Connect To Opportunity Youth In 2021
Part one in a three-part series explores three thought leaders' insights and lessons learned in supporting Opportunity Talent—particularly Opportunity Youth—over the course of the pandemic, and what that might mean for the future.
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Creating A Culture Of Inclusivity: A Spotlight On Atlassian & Genesys Works
Genesys Works shares an in depth look into their partnership with Atlassian and the importance of investing in underserved youth in an effort to create a culture of diversity, inclusivity and equity especially during a time of uncertainty and ambiguity.
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There Are 6 Million Black Workers Missing From Your Talent Pool
In addition to the 5.3 million Black workers with college degrees, Opportunity@Work has identified 10 million Black STARs - workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes such as associate degrees, credential training programs, on-the-job learning, and self-guided learning at the kitchen table
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Workforce Update: A Balancing Act For America's Working Women
As the economy recovers, women will see increased pressure to balance work, childcare and school schedules that are contingent on when and if COVID spreads. An inclusive recovery must prioritize investments in education and training tied to support women who have been displaced by the pandemic.
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#WhatsWorking: How To Build A More Just And Equitable Economy, The Ideas Are Flowing
It's Workforce Development Month! Thought leaders in education, business, workforce development, training programs, and more gathered for a Twitter Chat earlier this month, hosted by WorkingNation, to share their strategies as Americans try to navigate their way back to the workplace.
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Show Me The Equal Money
Achieving pay equity is fundamental to being an Opportunity Employer, and it can be more complicated than it seems. To live by stated values like equity and equal opportunity, companies must take a dedicated, data-driven approach to pay equity.
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Cultivating Young And Diverse Talent With GRACE
The world of work is becoming increasingly diverse and rapidly complex, calling for a transformation in how employers tackle workplace culture and talent management. Utilizing The GRACE method can provide the right support needed to help diverse individuals grow within their workplace.
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No, Putting A Person Of Color On Your Panel Doesn’t Accomplish “Diversity”
As businesses across the country confront their role in systemic racism, companies are issuing pledges to appease their shareholders, customers, and employees. However, leaders have yet to invest in one place that could make immediate and exponential change.
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Grads of Life BrandVoice: Leveraging Opportunity Employment To Advance Racial Justice In Corporate America
Recent events –including the demands for justice following the killing of George Floyd, and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and brown communities –have companies around the country reflecting more deeply than ever on racial injustice, and the role they can play in addressing it.
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The Impact Of COVID-19 On Youth In Foster Care
The YES Project interviews Opportunity Youth, Veronica V., who participates in iFoster’s TAY AmeriCorps program—an opportunity for transition-age foster youth to gain the skills necessary to pursue permanent employment once they age out of the foster care system.
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5 Ways Employers Can Support Black Employees: A Young Leader’s Advice
The YES Project interviews Opportunity Talent, Sierra W., who discusses her job experience working as a person of color during the pandemic and how employers can better support their POC employees during a time of uncertainty and racial injustice
