For 25 years, Year Up United has delivered measurable, life-changing outcomes for tens of thousands of young adults. But what makes the organization truly unique – and powerful – is that it’s not just a workforce program. 

It is a movement. 

A movement that is reshaping how employers think about talent. A movement that is elevating alumni as civic leaders and industry professionals. A movement that is shifting national narratives around equity, education, and economic mobility. 

We are creating large-scale, systemic impact, and working to transform systems. 

We have always understood that we cannot achieve our mission of closing the Opportunity Divide through direct service alone. That is why we have built a multi-layered ecosystem that includes: 

• Grads of Life, which equips employers to adopt inclusive, skills-first hiring practices 

• YUPRO Placement, a staffing firm that places alumni in high-quality roles nationwide 

• Talent Networks, partnerships with community colleges that integrate our proven approach into local education and workforce systems 

• A 30,000+ member alumni network mobilizing for civic, professional, and social change 

This structure allows us to have influence far beyond the young adults we are able to serve directly. It enables employers, educators, and policymakers to adopt and scale what works – often without Year Up United needing to be directly at the center. We have intentionally created a model that is replicable and catalytic because we know that is the only way to truly close the Opportunity Divide.  

For our supporters, this means each investment drives outsized impact. Everyone $1 spend on Year Up United results in a benefit of $2.46 to society – meaning, at scale, a $100 million investment in Year Up United could generate $246 million in net societal benefits. 

Shaping the National Conversation 

In recent years, Year Up United has helped lead the national shift toward skills-first hiring – the practice of valuing skills, not just credentials, in employment decisions. This approach has been endorsed by hundreds of major employers and public sector leaders, in part due to research and advocacy efforts we and our partners have led. 

Grads of Life’s landmark Dismissed by Degrees report was a primary catalyst of the skills-first movement and influenced how companies design job descriptions, recruitment strategies, and advancement pipelines. The report exposed for the first time that widespread overreliance on four-year degrees (coined “degree inflation”) screens out otherwise qualified talent and is bad for business, and remains frequently cited today.  

In 2024, Year Up United’s impact reached even broader audiences with the release of UNTAPPED, a feature-length Netflix documentary highlighting the barriers young adults face – and the solutions that work. 

These moments matter. They move the needle on public perception, corporate practice, and political will. 

Alumni as Movement Builders 

Perhaps most inspiring of all are the alumni who carry this movement forward. With over 30,000 graduates nationwide, Year Up United alumni are not just employed – they are engaged. 

They’re speaking at conferences, mentoring peers, launching businesses, running for office, and shaping industries from the inside. Many return to Year Up United as volunteers, donors, and staff. Some sit on boards. Others advocate for policy reforms in their communities. 

“To me, the Year Up United community is both a family and a resource,” says Thai Nguyen, Operations Assurance Analyst at JPMorgan Chase and Year Up United Graduate. Being part of this community allows me to stay connected with my fellow alumni across the country, knowing I have the support of over 25 years of graduates. With 25 years of proven alumni success, our potential to create change and impact our communities only continues to grow.” 

Year Up United is a flywheel of impact. A single participant becomes a graduate. A graduate becomes a professional. A professional becomes an advocate. And that advocate brings others along. 

The scale of our ambition – and its track record – requires partners who see beyond programmatic impact. It requires partners who: 

• Believe in field-building, not just service delivery 

• Invest in infrastructure that strengthens systems, not just pilots 

• Understand that real change happens when we shift both outcomes and mindsets 

Year Up has done the work: it’s built the partnerships, generated the data, developed the proof points, and fostered the credibility. Now, with continued investment, the organization can deepen its national influence – helping employers hire differently, policymakers legislate wisely, and communities thrive equitably. 

Join the Movement 

Year Up has always been bigger than a training program. It is  a strategy for justice, a platform for opportunity, and a model for what’s possible when we center potential – not pedigree. 

Let’s build the future of workforce equity. Let’s rework the future, together. 

Alumni in Action:  These alumni didn’t just launch careers, they launched change. 

Join the Movement 

Year Up has always been bigger than a training program. It is  a strategy for justice, a platform for opportunity, and a model for what’s possible when we center potential – not pedigree. 

Let’s build the future of workforce equity. Let’s rework the future, together. 

Meet Andre - A 2014 Graduate 

Philadelphia - Pennsylvania State Representative for District 201  

Before Year Up United, Andre D. Carroll was working as a server in various restaurants across Philadelphia, a job he held for six years. While he was grateful for the work, Andre knew that waiting tables was not the life he wanted. He longed for a different path—one that would allow him to break out of the cycle and create more opportunities for himself. At a crossroads in life, Andre decided to take a chance on Year Up United. He wanted more than just a job; he wanted the education and access to career opportunities to give him the life he had always dreamed of.   

Year Up United provided Andre with the chance he was looking for. He appreciated the program's mix of classroom learning and internship experience, especially the challenge of his internship. His time in the program helped him develop transferable skills, especially the power of networking, which would later open doors for him in the public service arena. Since completing Year Up United, Andre's journey has been nothing short of transformative. He has pivoted to a career in public service, driven by a desire to give back to his community. He has been able to run for office, being elected as Pennsylvania State Representative for District 201 in the Pennsylvania State House, get involved in local politics, and work with elected officials, all thanks to the connections and skills he gained through Year Up United. Now, Andre not only thrives in public service but also actively helps others who are where he once was—uncertain of their future and looking for a way out. He believes deeply in the importance of the Year Up United alumni mantra, “lifting while you climb,” and uses his success to mentor others, ensuring they get the same opportunities that once changed his life.  

Meet Durrell - A 2012 Graduate 

New York - Assistant Professor - School of Social Work, Rutgers University  

While attending Hudson Valley Community College and playing football, Durrell Washington’s plans were unexpectedly disrupted by an injury. Struggling with uncertainty and missed college application deadlines, he discovered Year Up United just days before the deadline and was accepted into the program on his birthday. There, he developed essential technical and interpersonal skills, particularly in communication, networking, and self-assurance. Initially set on a career in corporate America, Durrell’s mentor and fellow participants at Year Up United helped him realize his deeper calling—social work.  

Durrell earned his bachelor's degree in social work before pursuing his master's at Columbia University. His work in policy sparked a passion for research, leading him to pursue a PhD at the University of Chicago’s School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, which he completed this year. Along the way, he has drawn on the skills he developed at Year Up United to confidently navigate diverse spaces, build meaningful connections, and engage with influential leaders. Today, he continues to break barriers in academia, earning numerous awards and using his experiences to create opportunities for others pursuing careers in social work, research, and higher education as an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Rutgers University. His dedication to Year Up United remains strong, as he currently serves as Chair of the National Alumni Association Board.   

Meet Ebony - A 2013 Graduate 

Atlanta - Manager, Deloitte  

Before joining Year Up United, Ebony Grayson was juggling college, various part-time jobs, and family responsibilities. With a young child to support, Ebony was eager for change, but wasn’t sure how to break out of her situation. When Ebony learned about Year Up United, she saw it as a chance to level up. Motivated by wanting to create a better future for her son, Ebony dove into the program, unsure of just how much it would reshape her life. During her time in Year Up United, Ebony embraced the opportunity to upskill and gain professional experience. The program not only helped her enhance her technical skills but also introduced her to the world of corporate environments.  

Since completing the program, Ebony has surpassed what she initially set out to accomplish. She completed her bachelor's degree, earned two master's degrees and is working towards her PhD. Her career journey includes significant roles at a leading financial institution as Associate VP of Data Governance, followed by her current role as a Manager at Deloitte. Beyond her career, Ebony has expanded her personal growth, owning multiple properties and even becoming an entrepreneur, launching an apparel printing business. She credits Year Up United for giving her the tools, mindset, and confidence to pursue opportunities she once thought were out of reach. With a focus on providing for her family and opening doors for future generations, Ebony's story is one of transformation, hard work, and dedication.