Dear friends,

I'm so happy to be reaching out to connect with you as we kick off 2025. Your support in 2024 had such a profound impact on us last year that it feels meaningful to start the new one with profound gratitude. As Founder, it's extraordinary to me that we are entering our 22nd year, and I'm particularly proud of how our network has grown to include all of you. We have stayed true to our core belief that networks — and the communities they help us build — are sources of power and promise.

I'm also starting the new year with hope — that our work together will be just as impactful in these months ahead, full of new possibilities, as we reaffirm our deep commitment to our mission.

And we will need it. The year ahead also brings headwinds. While shifts in the national landscape will require greater innovation and resilience, OppNet's organizational mission remains crystal clear: we will continue to stand alongside students across the country as they pursue destinies of their own making and to support educators, organizations, colleges, and employers working in partnership with us in service of that mission. We hope you'll join all of us by renewing your commitment to creating opportunities for young people with the potential for greatness.

Each OppNet student success story represents their hard-earned achievements and the powerful ripple effect that strong, supportive networks and abundant resources can have across generations. As we navigate this pivotal moment, your continued support enables us to deepen our commitment to our young people, expand our reach, and strengthen the systems that create lasting change.

I invite you to learn more about our work and consider supporting OppNet's mission by visiting opportunitynetwork.org/donate. Together, we can light the path for every young person to shine.

Onward,

 

 

 

Jessica Pliska
Founder, The Opportunity Network

 

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Dear Community Member,

Welcome to The OppDate! I am now in my ninth month as CEO and I'm excited to share what we have been up to. We are shaping college and career pathways for the next generation entering the workforce in bold and powerful ways. That's the essence of creating opportunity. Our work is more critical than ever, as there is much national conversation occurring regarding the value of a college degree and the emergence of skills-based hiring. At OppNet it is BOTH AND! We believe in the power of higher education, while developing strong skills that will assist students as they transition into the workforce. Social capital is our core, and relationships dominate maneuvering in life and especially in career. We pride ourselves on opening the door to great networks for our youth who are first-generation college students. Take a look below and see just how Fellows gained skills, met new people, were exposed to careers, rocked digital marketing projects, and learned so much while on internships this summer. It's been a great first summer for me as CEO, learning alongside our Fellows.

Join us in welcoming our college students, whether back on campus or experiencing college for the first time. Check out our social media channels highlighting their experiences.

We also invite you to volunteer with OppNet this fall to help us open more opportunities for our youth. There are many ways to do so, as you will read below. As the great Shirley Chisholm once said, "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth." We are paying that rent here at OppNet as servant leaders and invite you to engage in serving our youth with your career experiences and talents. The reward for doing so is bountiful!

With gratitude,

Lucria Ortiz

President and CEO

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OppNet is "Back On Campus" with the Class of '28!

As the new academic year begins, OppNet is thrilled to celebrate this year's incoming college freshmen and cheer them on as they embark on an exciting new chapter in their lives. To share their journeys, a few of our Fellows will be taking over OppNet's social media pages, offering an insider's view of campus life, exploring new environments and applying their networking skills in practice!

We invite you to check out this Instagram takeover by OppNet Fellow Yannick Doumde, who is currently a senior at Lehigh University! Don't forget to follow us on our Instagram and LinkedIn pages for more updates and insights from our dynamic and diverse community!

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OppNet Summer Institute 2024

This summer, we were thrilled to welcome our newest class of OppNet Fellows at our annual Summer Institute! In July, the Class of 2030—comprising rising 11th graders from NYC—participated in an inspiring career exposure trip to BNY. During their visit, they delved into the world of global banking, cybersecurity, and AI, gaining invaluable insights. A special thank you to Senior Vice President Jason Rosado and the entire BNY team for hosting us and leaving our Fellows with the empowering message, “You belong here.” Indeed, they most certainly do!

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OppNet Fellows Stand Out Among Macquarie Group's Largest LEADS Cohort

Congratulations to our four OppNet Fellows who were part of Macquarie Group’s largest-ever LEADS cohort! This summer, these Fellows honed their professional skills by collaborating with passionate Macquarie mentors on industry research projects and workshops. This year, Macquarie welcomed 21 students across its Jacksonville, New York, and Philadelphia offices for an intensive five-week program focused on professional development and mentorship.

Since 2008, the Macquarie LEADS program has empowered young people from historically underrepresented backgrounds to achieve their educational and career goals. This year's program, for the first time, embraced a hybrid externship model, blending daily remote industry research with weekly in-person workshops, offering greater flexibility for all participants. A heartfelt thank you to our friends at Macquarie for providing such invaluable opportunities and support.

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OppNet Fellows Shine in CodeSpeak Labs' Next Step Apprenticeship

In August, our OppNet Fellows dazzled their audience with final presentations from this summer's Next Step Apprenticeship. In collaboration with CodeSpeak Labs, this program offers tech- and media-savvy young people hands-on experience, working with digital projects for real-world clients.

This year, OppNet had the privilege of being the client, and Fellows collaborated to pitch to staff.

Our talented Fellows pitched their visions for a refreshed brand and style kit, showcasing their skills in logo design, website development, and social media content creation to elevate OppNet's digital presence. From the creativity of their ideas to the polished professionalism of their pitch decks — let's just say that the client was beyond impressed!

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Career Immersion Day with Blue Owl Capital

Our partnership with Blue Owl Capital continues to thrive as OppNet Fellows and students from Macaulay Honors College, STEER for Student Athletes, NJ LEEP, and MESA Charter High School participated in a Career Immersion Day focused on financial investment.

Co-President and Founder Michael Rees shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing that "entrepreneurship is a mindset." Students left inspired by his story and dynamic career path. The highlight of the day was OppNet's signature Speed Networking session, where students engaged in lively discussions with Blue Owl employees on investment, networking, and more. This is how OppNet builds corporate partnerships — through deep, meaningful engagement that benefits both our Fellows and our partners.

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Corporate Volunteerism = Pathway to Success

"It gives you a deeper sense of purpose and, for employees, it gives them a deeper sense of morale."

—Erica Knox, Corporate Communications Coordinator at BET

At OppNet, corporate partnerships open doors to a multitude of career options and industries that help our brilliant and diverse young people navigate their futures with confidence and purpose. Hear from our CEO, OppNet alumni, and volunteers like Erica Knox from BET, Orlando Taylor from Deloitte, Robert Andrews of Evercore ISI, Jacob Pincus from Aquiline, and Tracy Hampton Fraser of Hakluyt & Company on how our program effectively empowers first-generation students and what they have personally gained from the experience.

Interested in becoming a corporate partner? Click here to learn more and join us in making a difference and shaping future leaders!

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OppNet in the News

 

"Representation is Powerful. Without It, I Doubted Success Was Possible for Me," Chalkbeat New York

We're thrilled to share a powerfully written article by OppNet Fellow Shamima Ahmed on community, representation, and self-advocacy.

Published in Chalkbeat New York, Shamima's article speaks straight to the heart of OppNet's work to create more opportunities for young people to see themselves represented in every space they can imagine. Read the whole piece here.

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"The Importance of Professional Business Networks," Authority Magazine

In a recent interview, OppNet's President & CEO, Lucria Ortiz, shared her path from growing up in public housing to a career in law and government and leading an organization dedicated to serving first-generation college students.

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Last night, the OppNet community gathered at our annual Night of Opportunity Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Together, we celebrated our achievements and reaffirmed our dedication to empowering young people to achieve their fullest potential.

Over 800 guests from the finance, entertainment, philanthropy, and media industries gathered to raise $3.4 million in support of OppNet's mission to close the opportunity gap and give students access to colleges, career opportunities, professional networks, and support that empowers them to achieve their goals. If you were not able to attend but would still like to donate in support of OppNet's critical work, you can do so here. We extend our deepest gratitude to our generous and vibrant community.

In addition to raising critical funds to expand educational and professional access, the evening featured powerful remarks from OppNet's leadership, our honorees, and current and former OppNet Fellows.

Emceed by American sports journalist and broadcaster Taylor Rooks, this year's event recognized the service and achievements of esteemed honorees: Anu Aiyengar, Global Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, J.P. Morgan; Rashida Jones, President, MSNBC; and Jamie Hector, Actor, Director, and Philanthropist.

This year's student and alumni honorees included Silvana Navia, OppNet Class of 2024; Sen Feng, OppNet Class of 2025; Tahrif Chowdhury, OppNet Class of 2028; and Windy Dias, OppNet Class of 2022, whose speeches touched on key themes of discovery and perseverance.

Silvana shared that since becoming an OppNet Fellow, she has consistently been empowered and encouraged to strive for more. She shared that she was grateful for the guidance she received from her mother, the support she received from OppNet, and her mentor for setting her on the path to success.

Windy Dias gave the audience a glimpse into her life and career via a special video recording, where she shared her journey from talented and driven high school student to seasoned global marketing professional. Her remarks highlighted the importance of networking not just for career advancement but for personal growth and developing meaningful life-long relationships.

Congratulations to all four recipients of the Opportunity Award. We are so proud of you and can't wait to cheer you on in all your future endeavors.

As we reflect on the success of the Night of Opportunity Gala, we are reminded of the significant strides we have made and the work that lies ahead. Thank you again to our community. We are so grateful for your strength, compassion, and generosity.

Today, on what would have been their birthday, we remember and honor Sonia Koopersmith, Assistant Director of Partnership Development at OppNet. Sonia was a queer, non-binary, Latinx native Texan who grew up in the KIPP charter school network. After serving as a high school college counselor and instructor, they spent the latter half of their career creating and evolving leadership-, professional-, and youth-based development programs, supporting students in K-12 and higher education spaces, and leading diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. They earned their B.A. from the University of Chicago and their M.A. in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy from New York University.

 

At OppNet, Sonia channeled their commitment to social justice and passion for young people into the collaborative design and development of OppNet’s Career Fluency® Partnerships program. Their talent for building authentic connections perfectly complemented their work in cultivating relationships with value-aligned schools, organizations, and professionals in the field. Sonia’s contributions to the team were invaluable. Their work has enabled the OppNet team to activate purposeful opportunities for community-informed, racial-equity-driven partnership growth and contributed to deepening our impact across the country.

Sonia was a community builder with a sparkling, dry wit and glowing, unflappable positivity. They kept the team laughing and connected. Their intentionality and community-centered approach have left an indelible mark on OppNet and the lives of everyone they touched. We’re so fortunate to have had them on our team and as part of our community. 

In our remembrance, we also give thanks to the Bezos Family Foundation for making a generous gift in Sonia’s honor; Sonia was a part of the prestigious Bezos Scholars Program while in high school, centering their Scholar project on equitable college access, and also returned to the program in 2014 as an educator Scholar. A community member from the Bezos Scholars Program shared that Sonia “embodied what it means to be inclusionary, was a true advocate for students, and strove for equality and justice in everything they did.” We couldn’t agree more. Sonia’s brilliance will live on through the work they contributed and the lives they impacted, at OppNet and beyond.

 

 

The Opportunity Network (OppNet), a New York-based non-profit dedicated to supporting underrepresented students, is proud to celebrate its first of a multi-year partnership with The Verstandig Family Foundation (VFF), a philanthropic organization founded by entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and philanthropist Grant Verstandig. 

In 2023, the partnership between VFF and OppNet began with a generous $1 million gift from VFF to bolster OppNet’s Career Fluency® Partnerships Program in Washington, D.C.. VFF and OppNet share a common purpose of investing in enhancing postsecondary and workforce readiness through immersive capacity-building efforts. “We are immensely grateful to partner with VFF, whose support has enabled The Opportunity Network to broaden the reach of our Career Fluency® Partnerships program in the D.C. region,” said OppNet President & CEO Lucria Ortiz, “This work is a testament to our shared commitment to empowering young people from underrepresented communities with the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to achieve their career aspirations. Together, we are impacting over 3,000 students and creating pathways to opportunity and success for the next generation of leaders.” 

OppNet’s philosophy focuses on broadening and deepening its partnerships with local institutions and schools to enhance their capabilities in promoting successful postsecondary transitions for youth. The program currently includes three youth-focused organizations in the DC area, including The Sitar Arts Center, The Latino Student Fund, and New Futures. “We are thrilled to join forces with OppNet in our shared mission to enhance postsecondary and workforce preparedness for underrepresented students. Our efforts to bolster OppNet’s Career Fluency® Partnerships Program in the D.C. region is just the beginning of our collaborative efforts to empower youth and create pathways to success,” Said Mr. Verstandig, “Together, we are investing in immersive capacity-building initiatives that will shape a brighter future for the next generation of leaders."

OppNet is hosting their second annual community gathering in the Washington, D.C. region. The focus of this year's event is 'If You Build It: Preparing Talent & Employers for Impactful Internships and More Inclusive Workplaces'. The event on Tuesday, April 2 at the Festival Center provides a platform for educators, practitioners, and leaders to collaborate towards advancing social justice and educational equity nationwide. 

Last June, OppNet held their inaugural event focused on youth mental health and wellness where attendees learned strategies for incorporating important conversations about mental health into their programming. The workshop, attended by 40 individuals from 19 local organizations, emphasized modeling self-care practices for youth, providing personalized support through one-on-one advising sessions, and advancing mental health awareness through community healing and advocacy efforts.

While open to all community members interested in fostering impact for young individuals, this event is particularly tailored for youth development professionals and educators capable of enhancing career growth and exposure opportunities for youth. Registration is currently available on Eventbrite. 

 

About the Opportunity Network

Since The Opportunity Network (OppNet) was founded in 2003, they have remained committed to igniting the drive, curiosity, and agency of underrepresented students on their paths to and through college and into thriving careers. As a result, 96% of OppNet Fellows have graduated college — 93% of whom will be the first in their families to do so — and 89% have started meaningful careers or graduate study within six months of graduation, all far exceeding national trends. Through its founding NYC-based Fellows program as well as its national capacity-building partnerships with 100+ schools, youth-serving nonprofits, and employers across the country, OppNet has helped more than 150,000+ young people chart their self-determined path to and through college and to a best-fit career. 

For more information on The Opportunity Network visit https://opportunitynetwork.org.

 

About the Verstandig Family Foundation

Established in 2017, the Verstandig Family Foundation leverages, funds, and scales initiatives that accelerate innovation, shape policy, and drive change at a local, national, and global level. VFF embraces disruption model thinking to accelerate public-private partnerships, build impactful programs with results, and drive change within organizations in 5 critical areas: healthcare, national security, education and entrepreneurship, veteran health, and animal welfare.

For more information, please visit verstandigfamilyfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

It is with tremendous excitement that the Board of Directors of The Opportunity Network announces Lucria Ortiz as our next President & CEO. Lucria will assume the role on January 2, 2024, succeeding AiLun Ku, who, as we announced in May, is leaving OppNet after 12 years of dedicated service to the organization.

Following an extensive six-month search process led by a selection committee composed of OppNet Board members and senior leaders, we are thrilled to welcome Lucria, a nonprofit leader, attorney, and changemaker with a 20-year career in nonprofit, public service, and legal practice.

 

 

Lucria currently serves as the President and CEO of the Yonkers Family YMCA in New York and sits on the YMCA's National Board of Directors. She has served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Advancement at the Ridgewood YMCA and in senior fundraising roles at the West Side YMCA and the Summit Area YMCA. Before nonprofit leadership, Lucria spent 11 years in the legal field as a public defender, working for the Bronx Defenders, the New York State Supreme Court, and criminal and civil court judges in New York City. She is a member of the New York State Hate and Bias Regional Prevention Council, the Yonkers Community Planning Council, and served on the Mayor's Police Reform Committee, and the Yonkers Health Equity Task Force. She holds a BA from Wesleyan and a JD from Northeastern School of Law.

Lucria is an extraordinary leadership, mission, and culture fit for OppNet, with career and lived experience that is deeply aligned with our vision for change and the thousands of young people we serve across the country. Lucria's lifelong commitment to equity, and broad experience working with boards, leadership teams, staff, and students to ensure it guides our work, is well-aligned with OppNet's core values. Her experience across youth organizations had made clear her dedication to creating opportunities for young people whose assets and contributions uplift their communities and positively influence the learning and working spaces they inhabit. A longtime leader of dynamic teams, Lucria brings management, fundraising, and operational skills to lead our next phase of growth. With undeniable passion and exceptional communication and advocacy skills, she is a remarkable spokesperson for our vision, as we elevate OppNet's national profile to bring in transformative resources for our communities.

Leadership transitions are challenging, but they are the mark of sturdy and sustainable organizations. OppNet has never been on stronger footing; as we come off of our spectacular 20th anniversary, and embark on the organization's next 20 years, we are proud to introduce Lucria as its primary steward.

In welcoming Lucria, we bid a warm and grateful farewell to AiLun Ku, whose 12 years at OppNet, four as CEO, shaped the organization indelibly. In our May letter announcing her departure, we noted:

AiLun's impact has been transformative, helping to take us from a start-up with promise to a field-leading, national organization with a best-in-class reputation for student-centered impact, innovative curriculum, systems for sustainable growth, and the best talent in the field. AiLun brought in record-breaking funds, increased students served by the thousands, launched new programs, and remained true to her deeply cherished connection to OppNet students, all during a global pandemic, followed quickly by the murder of George Floyd and the national racial uprising, which had a profound impact on our organization, staff, students, and community at large. Under her leadership, OppNet weathered the impact of these two most seismic events in its 20-year history, and, for that, she deserves our recognition and gratitude.

Our board and leadership team are confident that our first stellar 20 years have laid the foundation for an even stronger next 20. We hope you will join us in welcoming Lucria and supporting OppNet into a thriving future.

 

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To read more coverage on OppNet's CEO transition, click here.

Dear OppNet Community,

We are an institution that lives our values out loud. We were founded on the basis of unequivocal humanity and the sanctity of human life. While our work is focused here in the United States, we are global citizens through our connections and our communities. And our community is in pain. 

We strongly condemn Hamas’ heinous and inhumane attacks on Israel and its families and children. 

We deeply abhor acts of war and violence that heedlessly take innocent lives - Israeli and Palestinian. 

We resolutely stand against conflict where children become collateral, their futures stolen and extinguished. 

In dark times, we look to voices of reason and sources of light. Right now, we hold tight to the words of Malala Yousafzai:

 

 

The history is complex but we are clear: We stand for children, always. We stand for children of all races, creeds, nationalities, abilities, and identities no matter where they call home around the world. 

To our community,

 

We have been bracing ourselves for this decision for months: the conservative majority of this nation’s highest court has ruled against affirmative action at Harvard and UNC. The education community and our workforce will reel from this decision for years to come.

But we’re neither alone nor helpless. 

The Opportunity Network (OppNet) and our comrades in the field got into the fight for access, opportunity, and justice for the long haul, knowing we’d make progress and endure setbacks. Without a doubt, today’s decision will set us back. Consistent with this country’s fraught history, our Black, Indigenous, and Latine students will bear the brunt of the impact — from being hypervisible in reality but being treated as invisible in our institutions. 

Hypervisible because of the undeniable ingenuity, resilience, culture, labor, and humanity they have brought forth to build this nation. 

Hypervisible because their talents are universally sought after and they enrich every space they occupy. 

Invisible because we still live in a divided nation. One that is still afraid of grappling with the truth of its past and not yet brave enough to reimagine a more expansive and prosperous future together.

Here’s what we know: 

• Higher education institutions are already facing an existential crisis of their sustainability and relevance in the future of work. In order to remain relevant, they need to attract, recruit, retain, and graduate students that will thrive and lead in an increasingly automated and globalized world. They cannot afford to miss out on the dynamic and vibrant lived experiences of our young people on their campuses, because without them, these campuses will become stale and stagnant, and eventually fade out of significance.
• The model minority myth has been one of the most effective racial narrative tactics in sowing division between the Asian American community and the Black, Indigenous, and Latine communities. Instead of falling into the trap of believing that there’s a scarcity of educational opportunities or that our meritocracy exists without privilege and nepotism, we can come together to make all educational institutions higher quality, more accessible, and more affordable. 

Here’s what we will do:

• We will continue to rigorously support our young people to set their terms for college “fit” — academically, socially, culturally, and financially. We will continue to partner with allies in higher education to better receive our young people with less bias and to welcome them in whole — with their full humanity and their full potential seen in full picture.
• We will call on our Career Fluency® Partners across the country to weave our leadership, knowledge, voice, and power to form a stronger network for action — one that stands shoulder to shoulder, one that endures, and one that uplifts.
• We will convene with peer organizations, communities, funders, and supporters to deepen our understanding and act together. 

 

With urgency and determination,

AiLun

RECOGNIZING 20 YEARS OF IMPACT WITH NOTABLE HONOREES TREVOR NOAH, AMERICAN EXPRESS' ANR´E WILLIAMS, BLUE OWL AND THEIR CO-FOUNDER MICHAEL REES

NEW YORK, March 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 3rd, 2023 The Opportunity Network (OppNet) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 16th annual Night of Opportunity Gala, honoring and celebrating OppNet Fellows and industry leaders who have committed to expanding inclusion, opportunity, and access in critical ways. This fundraising event will highlight OppNet's mission to close the opportunity gap that exists for students of color that have been historically underrepresented.

Celebrating 20 years of impact, this year's Gala Honorees include Comedian, best-selling author, producer, and philanthropist, Trevor Noah; Anré Williams, CEO, American Express National Bank & Group President, Enterprise Services, American Express; and Blue Owl and Michael Rees, Co-Founder and Co-President of Blue Owl and OppNet Board Member.

"We have been working for 20 years to ensure that our students have access to every resource and social capital to thrive," said AiLun Ku, President and CEO of The Opportunity Network. "Not only do we create opportunities but have been working hard to break down the systemic barriers that stand in our students' way. We are proud of our 20 years of impact and have bold goals for the 20 years ahead."

Since its founding in 2003 by Jessica Pliska and Brian Weinstein, President and COO of Bad Robot Productions, The Opportunity Network has been working directly with students, educators, and employers to ensure young people of color from historically marginalized communities across the US, thrive in high school, college, and as they launch their careers. Since welcoming the first Fellows cohort of 10 New York City high school sophomores 20 years ago, OppNet now serves 1,100 students citywide and – since 2011 – tens of thousands nationwide annually.

"For two decades, OppNet has enabled first-generation college students to chart a successful career path – it's a mission I feel deeply connected to," said Anré Williams, CEO, American Express National Bank & Group President, Enterprise Services, American Express. "I'm proud to be honored alongside Trevor and Michael and look forward to working with OppNet to ensure talented young people get the powerful backing they deserve."

"Every OppNet student I meet further deepens my commitment to the organization. It is for this reason that I am invested in growing its impact and expanding its internship program so that even more OppNet students can bring their immense talents to the alternative investment industry. I'm proud of Blue Owl's leadership and humbled to be recognized among this year's esteemed honorees," said Michael Rees, Co-Founder and Co-President of Blue Owl.

OppNet's Gala is its most impactful night of the year, raising critical funds to support its work and bringing together a strong network of a thousand individual supporters and corporate partners. More than 800 guests attended the 2022 Gala and raised a record-breaking $3.6 million dollars in support of expanding OppNet's mission of closing the opportunity gap and scaling the impact of that work to serve as many young people of color as possible.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY NETWORK

Since OppNet was founded in 2003, they have remained committed to igniting the drive, curiosity, and agency of underrepresented students on their paths to and through college and into thriving careers. As a result, 92% of OppNet Fellows have graduated college – 90% of whom will be the first in their families to do so – and 89% have started meaningful careers or graduate study within six months of graduation, all far exceeding national trends. Through its founding NYC-based Fellows program as well as its national capacity-building partnerships with 100+ schools and youth-serving nonprofits across the country, OppNet has helped more than 150,000+ young people chart their self-determined path to and through college and to a best-fit career. For more information on The Opportunity Network visit https://opportunitynetwork.org/.

 

ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE