2023.03 -- US Storybook 2022 updated 4.14 - Flipbook - Page 72
CAREER READINESS AND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
A NEW FRONTIER
For more than 20 years, PeacePlayers has successfully implemented a high impact Leadership Development Program (LDP)
around the world, engaging thousands of youth from underserved communities around the world. Based on this past success,
PeacePlayers has implemented LDP programming in the United States ever since the launch of PeacePlayers U.S. in 2017.
Programming combines conflict resolution and leadership training, providing youth with tools to lead healthy, successful personal
and professional relationships.
During the 2020-2021 program year, PeacePlayers Brooklyn piloted an expanded Leadership Development Program, which
included a more direct focus on career readiness and advancement as an additional way to connect youth in our cities with
equitable opportunities. Building on the success of these activities in Brooklyn, PeacePlayers sought to increase the breadth and
depth of career advancement and economic empowerment activities, and to reach additional beneficiaries across all five cities.
To this aim, PeacePlayers United States partnered with the NBA Foundation in 2022 to launch its Career Readiness Initiative
in Brooklyn, Detroit, and Los Angeles. Later in the year, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation became a second seed partner, expanding
PeacePlayers’ focus to include workforce development, a more systematic approach to creating equitable economic opportunity.
This initiative connects young leaders from underserved communities with personal coaching, networking opportunities,
advocacy training, group facilitation workshops, and conflict resolution training. When combined, these components lead to
meaningful employment opportunities (job readiness) and the development of a movement of young leaders positioned to change
systems and drive economic and social empowerment (workforce development).
Read more about the impact of our Career Readiness and Workforce Development work below, and how we’ve leaned into our
core value of Culture of Collaboration, in partnership with organizations who are equally committed to equitable opportunities for
communities in harnessing their own economic advancement.
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PEACEPLAYERS UNITED STATES STORYBOOK