The report was discussed at the Carver Community Center on Thursday, October 19th. The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and a panel of leaders, including Carver CEO Novelette Peterkin, conducted the first of five regional roundtables calling attention to a crisis affecting young people in Connecticut who are off-track or disconnected from education or employment.
The other panelists at the Carver Community Center were (L-R) Mendi Blue Paca, Fairfield County's Community Foundation; Mike Duggan, Domus Kids; Marc Donald, RYASAP; Emily Pallin, Connecticut RISE Network; and next to Novelette, Mayor Harry Rilling, Mayor of Norwalk.
The new report (see Dan Harr’s article about the report here in CT Insider) commissioned by Dalio Education and compiled by the Boston Consulting Group reveals startling statistics about Connecticut's youth. The report, titled "Connecticut's Unspoken Crisis: Getting Young People Back on Track," finds that nearly 63,000 young people aged 14-26 in Connecticut are "disconnected" - meaning they have dropped out of high school, graduated but are not working, or are at risk of not graduating.
See the video below of this first regional roundtable discussion at the Carver Community Center.
Hello, World!
The report paints a sobering picture of a "lost generation" of young people in Connecticut who are not on track educationally or vocationally. The information goes beyond just raising awareness of the issue. It calls for greater coordination between the many local and state agencies interacting with disconnected youth. Specific recommendations include designating offices and positions in every municipality focused on overseeing efforts and improving collaboration.
The report's findings have sparked calls for more investment in solutions. Groups like the Campaign for Working Connecticut advocate for "public and private investment in young people" to address the crisis.
This report's compilation of detailed data across eight state agencies is unique - the first time such comprehensive information has been brought together. It provides a fact-based foundation for understanding the scope of youth disconnection in Connecticut.
The implications of the report are far-reaching. With nearly one in five youth disconnected, Connecticut faces real challenges. But by sounding the alarm and promoting coordinated efforts, the report aims to put the state on a path to ensure all young people are educationally engaged and vocationally prepared. Addressing this "unspoken crisis" is critical for Connecticut's future.
