President Clinton launched his New Markets Initiative to expand our thriving economy into pockets of poverty and unemployment that remain. Our young people form a major source of human capital for the next century, and we cannot afford to leave this source untapped. Unlocking the talents of youth is good public policy. It is good business. And it is vital to tapping into new markets throughout the United States.
Human capital is as critical to our success as investment capital.
The mission of the Youth Opportunity Movement is that all youth, particularly those most in need, will acquire the necessary skills and work experience to grow. Ultimately, the Youth Opportunity Movement is designed to offer young people particularly those most in need, the opportunity and the tools to compete successfully in the global economy of the 21st century. Research shows that an effective strategy to help at-risk youth find employment must address personal, societal, academic and professional challenges. These 10 million young people in particular face serious obstacles, because research shows that less educated youth have more difficulty finding employment and are more likely to experience social problems such as crime, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy and welfare dependency. There are many ways to get involved in the Youth Opportunity Movement.