Jobs For America’s Graduates (JAG) To Celebrate 40 Year Anniversary And Legacy Of Empowering Youth Across The Country At November 30 Gala In Washington D.C.

Alongside donors, policymakers, and its affiliates from across the country, Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), a national organization whose mission is to empower the nation’s young people with the skills and support to succeed in education, employment, and life, will celebrate 40 years of helping over 1.7 million youth across the United States graduate high school, well prepared to enter both secondary education and the workforce at its upcoming 40^th Anniversary Gala.

To be hosted at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. on November 30^th, 2022, JAG will provide a platform for its students, staff, specialists, national student officers and alumni alongside its Board of Directors, including Governors, two Senators, two members of Congress and a member of the Presidential Cabinet.

The JAG Board reflects its commitment to bipartisanship, with 14 Governors from both parties serving on the Board, the largest number of Governors to serve on any board in the country.

JAG will take this opportunity to thank those who have lent their time and resources to the organization, ensuring that JAG continues to help vulnerable and underrepresented youth across the nation achieve graduation rates of above the 95 percentile, and obtain employment and post-secondary education enrollment at rates 2x-3x higher than the national average.

The results for JAG’s Class of 2021, as of May 31, 2022, exceeded national averages across numerous performance indicators. They include:

• A graduation rate of nearly 96% – (The national average of all 18—19-year-olds is below 84%.)
• A jobs rate of nearly 65%, and the full-time jobs rate was nearly 83% – both the highest in JAG’s history.
• An unemployment rate of 6.25%, about 40% lower than the rate for all 18–19-year-olds of 10.4%.
• A post-secondary education rate 46.55% (an increase from 40.5% for the Class of 2020). For reference, the national enrollment rates decreased by 10–15% for the second year in a row, while JAG’s increased by nearly 15%.

Today, JAG operates in over 1,500 locations across 39 states, serving 75,000 youth and young adults.

JAG’s Board has also adopted an aggressive strategy over the next three years, to build upon its 40 years of success – Youth Opportunities and Outcomes 2024 (YOO24) – with four key priorities: 1) Invest in the JAG Network; 2) Serve More Young People; 3) Tell the JAG Story; and 4) Increase Outcomes through Enhanced Services.

Its goals include doubling the scale of the organization to meet the needs of many more youth and young adults across the country, while simultaneously enhancing services to include dual enrollment opportunities and securing credentials valuable in the communities where JAG students live, so that they can secure a better-than-entry-level job upon exiting the program.

Ken Smith, President and CEO of JAG, stated that, “As we look back on our 40-year track record of successfully supporting and guiding our students of great promise, achieving such high levels of success, we are immensely grateful to our Board, to our donors, to our State Affiliates across the country and to our JAG students for all their efforts to ensure that every young person finds success, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances.”

“While commemorating 40 years in service, we are focused on our plans in 2023 and beyond.”

The JAG 40^th Anniversary celebration will coincide with the organization’s National Student Leadership Academy (NSLA) in which JAG elected student officers from across the country will gather in Washington D.C. to attend classes in leadership, management and advocacy, with many meeting with members of Congress to report on the state of JAG, participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, and networking among friends.

Janelle Duray, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of JAG, stated that, “Our success, which we celebrate as November comes to a close and on the heels of #GivingTuesday, is a credit to the young people who inspire us every day. They show up with perseverance and determination in the face of adversity, achieve incredible outcomes, and in the process, make America stronger.”

“Together, we will continue working to help every student achieve their full potential, now and in future.”

About Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG)

The JAG National Network has a footprint across 1,500 communities in 39 states and impacts more than 75,000 youth annually. JAG graduates consistently achieve outstanding results, including a 95.85% graduation rate. JAG graduates are 230% more likely to be employed full-time compared to their peers, and twice as likely to go to college. For more information, visit https://jag.org.

Contact Information

Samuel Amsterdam

Marketing & Communications

Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG)

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