More than ever before, with equity and equality under fire, it is important to understand that education is key to building equity in the world our young people live in. One of our organizational priorities over the past few years has been trying to close the digital skills gap for Black and brown students. In order to be leaders in tomorrow’s economy it is necessary for BIPOC communities to have better digital literacy and computer science skill sets.

Today, fewer young men of color are attending college than in years past – this is another trend we must address. For the most part, college or postsecondary training programs are still prerequisites for sustainable-wage employment. We want to start earlier with young men and provide additional wraparound supports for development, including internships and mentorship opportunities.

Michael Roberts