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.
-
Grads of Life BrandVoice: How Employers Can Build An Equitable Next Generation Workforce – Even During A Pandemic
Urban Alliance, Grads of Life, The Rock Family of Companies and YouthForce NOLA team up to examine the state of youth unemployment during the pandemic and share key insights into how employers can build an equitable and diverse workforce that is inclusive of youth talent.
-
Teaching Entrepreneurship Will Be Key To The Post-COVID Recovery
Investing in the diverse entrepreneurs of the future will require the development of alternative education and training programs — those that prioritize helping students quickly gain the skills they need to build and lead their own businesses.
-
Driving Opportunity For Women Immigrants Is Key To Recovery
Economists and activists alike have been voicing concern about the disproportionate impact that the pandemic has had on women workers, and the possible long-term consequences. More than 31 million women could lose their jobs as a result of COVID, equating to a decline in global GDP of $1 trillion.
-
Young People We Should Be Betting On
Roadtrip Nation has spent the past 20 years learning and growing from insightful conversations with inspiring young people and professionals across the country. This past year, Roadtrip Nation featured alumni from a variety of workforce dev. programs to highlight skills they bring to the workplace
-
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.
-
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.
-
Time For Corporate America To Translate Good Intentions On Racial Equity Into Real Progress
The Management Leadership for Tomorrow has launched the MLT Black Equity at Work Certification to provide leading employers, who are committed to driving and sustaining real change, a comprehensive standard and framework of what leadership looks like for racial equity.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
#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.
-
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.
