Open House Bring YOTR Partners Together for Action

On July 20th, Youth on the Rise (YOTR) hosted an open house on the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona campus, convening partners for an afternoon of networking, engaging in reflective activities, and sharing resources. For many of the 65 attendees, the event served as an opportunity to gather in person with other YOTR partners for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Attendees got their first look at the upcoming Youth Resource Platform, an online tool co-developed with youth to provide young people in our community a more convenient way to access services and resources related to education, employment, housing, and other supports. Additionally, partners shared insights and feedback essential to supporting YOTR’s collaborative action towards changing systems to ensure all youth have equitable access to education and career pathways. YOTR partners also learned more about Cradle to Career’s impact in other outcome areas and connections to YOTR’s work.
Many partners shared how excited they were to gather together again.
“I was so inspired by the turnout of community partners and the high energy engagement of the group,” said Dani Carrillo of the University of Arizona’s Fostering Success, and co-chair of YOTR. “There have been so many circumstances outside our control that have isolated us as providers. This open house felt like a new jumping off point of our community coming together to support and create opportunities in partnership with youth.”
YOTR will continue to meet quarterly as they aim to provide pathways to employment and education to Opportunity Youth across Pima County