Pathways to Progress: On the Road to Economic Success – Two Years In
Young people around the world need better economic opportunities, and increasingly the economic competitiveness of cities depends on their success. At the Citi Foundation, we work to inspire young people to believe in themselves and in their futures. That's why, two years ago, we launched Pathways to Progress with a three-year commitment to invest $50 million to reach 100,000 low-income youth in ten cities across the U.S.
Through programs that cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, instill leadership skills through debate and participation in service projects, provide a first job, and create networks of professional and personal support through mentor relationships, Pathways to Progress has connected tens of thousands of young people to opportunities that are shaping their progress and improving their economic futures. Today, we're well on our way to meeting and exceeding our original goal, having reached over 70,000 young people.
As we mark the completion of two years of Pathways to Progress, we'd like to recognize and celebrate the immense collaborative effort carried out by community partners, municipal leaders, and all the dedicated Citi volunteers who worked towards our shared goal of preparing the current generation of young people with the skills they need to succeed at 21st century careers.
In 2015, with the release of Accelerating Pathways, we reaffirmed and enhanced our commitment to invest in the economic future of urban youth by expanding Pathways to Progress programming globally. Accelerating Pathways is intended to spark a meaningful dialogue around what approaches are working and what else we might do to fully support the economic ambitions of young people. In the upcoming months we will be showcasing first-hand stories of young people involved with Pathways to Progress programs around the world who have been provided with the onramps they needed to advance and improve their careers.
