Despite what people may think, local Opportunity Youth care deeply about improving their families, communities, and themselves. They are motivated to put in the work to better themselves. At the same time, it is important that programs and services aimed at OY take time to “connect the dots.” Programs need to understand the support youth and young adults are seeking and clearly communicate the needs and goals they are addressing. We recommend that everyone working with OY review this page and make sure your organization’s OY programs are focusing on one or more of these goals.
Who is this module for?
Organizational Leaders
Frontline staff
Marketing and communication staff
Programs and Opportunity Managers
Main Takeaways
1. OY ARE invested in improving themselves.
Despite some myths about them, the reality is that people who can be considered OY are highly invested in improving their own lives and the lives of their families, friends, and communities.
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2. Make sure that your program aligns with some of these motivators and goals.
No program can do it all. Good programs do a few of these things well. Great programs really hone in on one or two key areas and make them their core priorities. Take a moment and think which of these areas your organization works on, and ask yourself which of those areas do you really excel in delivering.
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If your OY offering does not fall into any of these areas, that does not mean you need to stop what you are doing. But that should lead you to consider whether you need to refine your messaging and programming to better align with local OY’s priorities.
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3. Spend some time thinking about who you can partner with to help your participants who are looking for areas you do not focus on.
Once again, no program can do it all. Great programs also help connect participants with other organizations that can fill those gaps.
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One of the challenges we will discuss shortly is the fragmented nature of programs serving OY in Memphis and Shelby County. Unfortunately, this often places the burden on organizations and employers to develop their own networks of service providers to support the people they work with.
Look across the different goals and motivations that are outside of your organization’s expertise. Do you know of any other organizations you would feel comfortable referring people to? If you find an area where you can’t think of anyone, that indicates a place to consider looking for new contacts and partners.
Results from a 2024 Survey of Local OY
As part of their research, our community researchers surveyed over 120 OY across Shelby County about their top three life priorities. Here are the top responses:
62%
Find a better job
53%
Improve
my education
46%
Improve my physical and mental health
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39%
Help
my family
33%
Get better housing
31%
Get stable transportation
27%
Help my
community
21%
Get access to clothing, food, & household items
Note: Because participants were asked to select three things,
these percentages add up to more than 100%.
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Nearly 2/3 of respondents to this survey were focused on securing a better job. Along those lines, half included improving their education and their mental and emotional health as critical.Using this survey and their other research, we identified eight categories of OY Goals.
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8 Motivators And Goals For Shelby County OY
1. Basic Stability
& Support
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Getting reliable and sustainable assistance with things like food, housing, transportation, mental and physical healthcare, and childcare.
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Everyone we talked with emphasized that without access to this support (both routine and emergency) it can feel impossible to get through a program or show up day after day for work (especially if transportation isn’t accessible).
2. Career and Life Skill-Building
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Receiving hands-on training and mentoring in technical, vocational, or creative areas that lead to careers.
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Opportunities to learn and practice skills that help you succeed in the workplace and in life, like communication, teamwork, stress management, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.
3. Employment & Career Pathways
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Paid work experiences, internships, and apprenticeships that lead to full-time positions.
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Support with job readiness (resume help) and getting through the hiring process (interview prep, assistance with looking professional).
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Clear pathways to advancement and long-term career opportunities, not just entry-level roles.
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Mentoring and proactive support with unexpected life issues to help them stay in and complete the programs.
4. Educational Advancement
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Assistance with high school completion, GED programs, or re-entry into education.
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Access to higher education or job certification programs with assistance to tuition.
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Tutoring, mentoring, and other proactive support to help them stay in and complete the programs.
5. Health & Wellbeing
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Access to physical and mental health resources.
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Trauma-informed services that avoid retraumatization.
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Recreation and wellness activities to help reduce stress.
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Assistance with developing healthy self-care routines and habits.
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Spiritual and religious growth
6. Personal Growth & Identity Development
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Mentorship and role models who reflect their backgrounds and aspirations.
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Opportunities to explore all of their strengths, passions, and identities, not just related to work or school.
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Opportunities to experiment and fail without shame or stigma.
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Tools for building self-confidence and focusing on their strengths rather than any deficits they are said to have.
7. Community & Belonging
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Positive adult relationships outside of family.
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A sense of belonging to organizations and communities that value them.
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Peer networks where young adults can connect and support each other.
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Opportunities to give back to their communities.
8. Developing Agency & Advocacy
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Opportunities to co-create programs, not just participate in them.
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Mechanisms to share feedback and see it acted upon.
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Training in leadership, advocacy, and organizing.
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Experiences that help them see themselves as changemakers.