Year Up

Year Up operates as a national workforce development organization, primarily delivering skills-first training programs to young adults. It offers a comprehensive suite of solutions including Career Pathways for direct skill development, Grads of Life which engages the private sector to bridge the Opportunity Divide, and YUPRO Placement, focusing on skills-first hiring for employers. These programs collectively aim to equip young individuals with the necessary abilities and connections to secure meaningful careers in high-demand industries.

The organization was established in 2000 by Gerald Chertavian. His foundational insight centered on addressing the persistent "Opportunity Divide," recognizing that a significant pool of talented young adults remained sidelined due to lack of access, while businesses simultaneously struggled to find qualified candidates. Chertavian sought to bridge this gap by creating structured pathways that connect motivated individuals with market-relevant skills and employer needs.

Year Up serves both young adults seeking career entry and over 250 corporate partners seeking diverse talent. Its vision is to reshape the world of work, fostering an ecosystem where economic opportunity is universally accessible. The organization strives to ensure that every young person has the chance to thrive professionally, contributing to broader societal change through inclusive workforce development practices.

High-Level Overview

Year Up United (formerly Year Up) is a national nonprofit workforce development organization founded to close the "Opportunity Divide" by equipping young adults from underserved urban communities with technical skills, professional experience, and support for career success and higher education.[1][3][4] It targets 18- to 24-year-olds who are disconnected from school and work, offering a one-year program that combines six months of classroom training (earning up to 18 college credits) with six months of paid internships at partner companies, achieving 85% placement in jobs or full-time education within four months of graduation.[1][2][7] Operating in over 30 sites across the U.S., it has served more than 45,000 young adults, partnered with 250+ employers, and delivers the highest earnings impact of any workforce program studied.[5][6]

The organization has evolved into Year Up United, integrating Year Up's training with Grads of Life (mobilizing skills-first hiring) and YUPRO Placement (talent solutions), providing end-to-end services for businesses facing skills gaps amid AI and workforce shifts.[3][4][6]

Origin Story

Year Up was founded in 2000 by Gerald Chertavian in Boston as an intensive one-year program to bridge the gap between disconnected urban young adults and professional careers, starting with 22 students.[2][5][7] Chertavian, motivated by the challenges of poverty and untapped talent among 18- to 24-year-olds with high school diplomas but no postsecondary path, launched it to deliver marketable skills, stipends, internships, and a "high support, high expectation" model emphasizing professionalism and critical thinking.[2][7]

Early traction came quickly: by 2013, it expanded to 11 cities serving 1,900 students annually with a $48 million budget and 250 corporate partners; today, it has scaled nationwide, serving over 45,000 alumni.[2][5][6] Key milestones include Lynch Foundation support from 2003 for growth and curriculum innovation, a 2023 rebrand to Year Up United amid evolving workforce needs, and features like the Netflix documentary *UNTAPPED* highlighting graduate success.[3][5][6]

Core Differentiators

• Proven Program Model: Rigorous admissions lead to five-to-six months of skills training in high-demand areas (e.g., IT, finance), followed by paid internships, college credits, and lifelong alumni support—resulting in superior earnings gains and 85% placement rates.[1][2][7]
• Skills-First Hiring Leadership: Champions employer shift from credentials to potential via Grads of Life and YUPRO Placement, partnering with 250+ companies to fill skills gaps and build inclusive cultures.[3][4][6]
• Holistic, Scalable Impact: Serves 45,000+ young adults across 30+ sites with customized, market-responsive curriculum co-designed with employers; integrates community networks, alumni (35,000+ strong), and ongoing career support.[4][5][6]
• Data-Backed Excellence: Randomized studies (e.g., PACE) confirm highest ROI among workforce programs; core values like accountability and diversity drive a supportive peer culture.[3][6][7]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Year Up United rides the skills-first hiring trend and AI-driven talent shortages, addressing the 6 million "disconnected" young adults sidelined by unequal opportunity while companies struggle with workforce gaps.[3][4][5][6] Timing is ideal amid post-pandemic labor shifts and tech's demand for diverse, adaptable talent over pedigrees, enabling partners like Salesforce to access "untapped" pools for roles in IT, data, and customer success.[6][9]

It influences the ecosystem by reshaping hiring norms—promoting inclusion, training for emerging jobs, and proving economic mobility (e.g., from poverty to $40K+ salaries)—while fostering business-society alignment through employer networks and policy advocacy.[2][4][6]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Year Up United is poised to expand its unified model, scaling talent pipelines and AI-era solutions as skills gaps widen, potentially serving 100,000+ annually via new sites and tech integrations.[4][6] Trends like remote work, lifelong learning, and DEI mandates will amplify its reach, evolving it from training provider to workforce ecosystem architect. Its influence may grow through more corporate partnerships and media (e.g., *UNTAPPED*), solidifying the close of the Opportunity Divide as a business imperative—proving that equal access unlocks talent for all.[3][6]