Why We Can’t Wait: A New Deal for Youth
>> newdealforyouth.org <<
At a time of pandemic, recession, public lynchings, and uprisings for racial justice, our nation is at a crossroads. The mounting stress and economic fallout from COVID-19 and racial turmoil is widening the equity gap for young people and communities of color. Young people are leading in the face of these entrenched challenges and demanding to be seen and heard. We are in a crisis and need action and investment from the public and private sector to support solutions proposed for decades by young people and racial justice leaders.
We can’t wait for economic justice. We can’t wait for healing and wellbeing. We can’t wait for safe communities. It is time for a New Deal for Youth that responds to the historic roots and current scale of the crisis. When the once-in-a-lifetime catastrophe is over, our future as a nation will depend on how intentionally we invest in this generation.
2023 Youth Data Portrait
CLASP analyzed updated data related to Economic Justice, Healing and Well-being, and Safe Communities for youth and young adults. CLASP and New Deal for Youth began tracking this data in 2020, and even in this relatively brief period it is clear that the outlook in many of these areas has gotten worse over time.
| ECONOMIC JUSTICE | HEALING AND WELL-BEING | SAFE COMMUNITIES |
| This first set of data shows that federal investments were more successful at reaching young adults than in the past. However the “economic recovery” has maintained or even exacerbated economic injustice for young people. | This second set of data points to some progress for young people on health insurance coverage. But the data also shows a growing mental health crisis. | This third set of data focuses on safe communities. According to the data, criminalization and violence, not safety, define young people’s experiences in their communities. |
2022 Youth Data Portrait
CLASP analyzed updated data related to Economic Justice, Healing and Wellbeing, and Safe Communities for youth and young adults.
| ECONOMIC JUSTICE | HEALING AND WELL-BEING | SAFE COMMUNITIES |
| This first set of data focusing on economic justice shows how federal investments did a better job of reaching young adults than prior years, but the “economic recovery” has maintained or exacerbated economic injustice for young people. | This second set of data focusing on healing and wellbeing shows some progress for young people on health insurance coverage, but continued evidence demonstrates how a youth mental health crisis is raging unabated. | This third set of data focusing on safe communities shows that criminalization and violence—rather than safety—continue to define young people’s experiences in their communities. |
2021 Youth Data Portrait Update
In 2020, we knew that the COVID-19 pandemic was taking a particularly brutal toll on youth and young adults. Whether looking at unemployment, mental health or health insurance, young people were struggling. Our 2021 data update shows that one year later, the portrait is essentially unchanged. Young people still can’t wait for economic justice, healing and wellbeing, and safe communities.
| READ 2021 UPDATE |
A 2020 Youth Data Portrait
CLASP analyzed data related to Economic Justice, Healing and Wellbeing, and Safe Communities for youth and young adults before and during the pandemic.
| ECONOMIC JUSTICE | HEALING AND WELL-BEING | SAFE COMMUNITIES |
| This first set of data focusing on economic justice show how the pandemic has made an already-inequitable system even worse for youth and young adults, particularly young people of color. View the social media toolkit and share on Twitter. | This second set of data focusing on healing and well-being show how the pandemic has made an already-inequitable system even worse for youth and young adults’ health, particularly young people of color. View the social media toolkit and share on Twitter here. | This third set of data focusing on safe communities show how the pandemic has made an already-inequitable system even worse for youth and young adults’ safety and health, particularly young people of color. View the social media toolkit and share on Twitter here. |
All analyses were conducted using the most recently available data as of August 2020. “Young people” refers to ages 16-25 in the U.S.; exact range varies by data set.