About Opportunity nation
Opportunity Nation - The Shared Plan to Restore Opportunity
Opportunity Nation is a non-profit organization that aims to restore opportunity in America. The organization was founded in 2011 by a group of business leaders, educators, and community advocates who recognized the need for a shared plan to address the growing opportunity gap in America.
The Opportunity Gap
The opportunity gap refers to the unequal distribution of opportunities and resources that exist between different groups of people. This gap is particularly pronounced in America, where income inequality has been on the rise for decades. According to recent studies, children born into low-income families are less likely to succeed academically and economically than their wealthier peers.
Opportunity Nation believes that this gap can be closed through a combination of policy changes and community-based initiatives. The organization works with policymakers at all levels of government to advocate for policies that promote economic mobility and social equity. At the same time, it partners with local organizations across the country to implement programs that provide access to education, job training, and other resources.
The Shared Plan
Opportunity Nation's approach is based on what it calls "the shared plan." This plan involves bringing together stakeholders from all sectors - including government officials, business leaders, educators, and community advocates - to develop strategies for addressing the opportunity gap.
The shared plan includes five key goals:
1) Increase post-secondary completion rates
2) Reduce youth unemployment
3) Increase access to affordable housing
4) Expand access to quality early childhood education
5) Promote entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty
Each goal is supported by specific policy recommendations and programmatic initiatives designed to achieve measurable outcomes.
Policy Recommendations
Opportunity Nation's policy recommendations are grounded in research on what works best when it comes closing the opportunity gap. For example:
- To increase post-secondary completion rates: Provide more financial aid for low-income students; create more partnerships between colleges/universities and employers; and expand access to high-quality career and technical education programs.
- To reduce youth unemployment: Increase funding for job training programs; create more apprenticeship opportunities; and provide tax incentives for businesses that hire young people.
- To increase access to affordable housing: Increase funding for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program; create more incentives for developers to build affordable housing; and provide rental assistance to families in need.
Programmatic Initiatives
Opportunity Nation's programmatic initiatives are designed to complement its policy recommendations by providing direct services and support to individuals and communities. For example:
- The Opportunity Index: This online tool provides data on economic, educational, and civic indicators at the state and county levels. It is designed to help policymakers, educators, business leaders, and community advocates identify areas of need in their communities.
- The Opportunity Youth Network: This network brings together organizations across the country that are working to connect young people who are not in school or employed with education/training opportunities or jobs. The network provides resources such as best practices guides, webinars, and networking events.
- The Opportunity Fellows Program: This program selects a cohort of young leaders from across the country each year who have demonstrated a commitment to addressing the opportunity gap. Fellows receive training in advocacy skills, public speaking, media relations, etc., as well as mentorship from established leaders in their fields.
Conclusion
Opportunity Nation is an organization that is committed to restoring opportunity in America through a combination of policy changes and community-based initiatives. Its shared plan approach has been successful in bringing together stakeholders from all sectors around common goals. By advocating for policies that promote economic mobility and social equity while also providing direct services/supports through its programmatic initiatives - such as the Opportunity Index or Fellows Program - Opportunity Nation is making a real difference in closing the opportunity gap.