In a matter of months, young people’s lives have been thrown into uncertainty and danger. No school. No job. Cut off from teachers or counselors. Worry over COVID-19. Plus, the ongoing anxiety over policing in our community.

Many kids don’t know where to turn. They need mentors and role models more than ever. But because of school closings, reliance on on-line learning, and rising unemployment, the number of disconnected youth in the U.S. could spike to 25 percent. And, according to Measure of America, Albuquerque will suffer more than most cities.

Research indicates that if we can keep students employed or in school, their lives are drastically better than those who become disconnected. When students reach their 30s, those who had been working or in school as teens are:

• 45% more likely to own a home
• 42% more likely to be employed
• 52% more likely to report excellent or good health

Our efforts to keep young people engaged now will make a difference in Albuquerque’s future for decades to come. And we’ve got an innovative idea that might make all the difference: give students purposeful work, real-world work, and pay them. 

Here’s how we’ll do it: Future Focused is creating a new initiative inside our X3 program to create virtual internships. These digital and hybrid experiences (online and in-person when possible) will provide training that is co-developed with our industry partners and the Leadership High Schools. This training program will be anchored in mentorship by industry professionals, provide college credit from CNM and industry credentials, and career and college counseling for a changing economy.

By keeping students engaged in school and work, we can literally save trillions of dollars. The estimates and projections are staggering. The Aspen Institute finds that the personal and public costs of not changing the trajectories of disconnected youth are $6.3 trillion dollars over the lifetimes of all current opportunity youth. That’s because when youth fall through the cracks, they aren’t contributing their talents to the community or economy, and require more government assistance, mental health aid, and are at higher risk of incarceration. 

But by keeping them employed, and connected with caring adult mentors that inspire and encourage them, we are providing pathways to careers and/or college. This is a win-win-win. A simple example: The median income of a high school dropout is $18,000, compared to $25,000 for a high school graduate. Just by keeping a student in school through graduation, we are fighting intergenerational poverty and improving their future enormously. Then, give them a mentor, a professional network, and a set of 21st century job skills, and the result is exponentially greater. Not only does the student have a brighter future, they bring up the prosperity of their whole community alongside them. 

Families in Albuquerque are hurting from the economic impacts of COVID-19 and many poor young people of color are feeling the pressure to get full-time jobs so that they can help support their families. Our solution keeps them in high school and does not ask them to sacrifice their future because of the crisis they face right now.  

Measure of America estimates that COVID-19 “has likely erased ten years’ progress in reducing the national youth disconnection rate in a matter of months.” We believe the X3 virtual internship is the defense we need against the high risk of disconnection in the wake of COVID-19. This is an investment in the workforce of the future and the health and prosperity of our community.  

Join us? Contact Future Focused to be a part of the first cohort of virtual interns and mentors. 

Hear from the interns & mentors:

Intern Melani Alonso’s story: How My X3 Internship Got Me on the Pre-Med Track
Intern Kelly Contreras’s story: How X3 Inspired My Passion
Mentor Tatiana Rodrigez’s story: Why Internships Are Critical for Youth of Color
Mentor Kelly Roepke’s story: My Mentor 'Ah-Ha!' Moment