We provide them with the resources, knowledge, skills, and personalized long-term support to achieve their education and career goals. Despite Montgomery County’s wealth, a significant and increasing percentage of its population are low-income, first generation college young adults. These high potential young adults will be essential to the County’s future workforce, particularly given that only 18% of employers say their access to skilled workers is sufficient. Complicating this is the fact that 90% of low-income, first generation college students do not graduate within 6 years at a time when nearly 80% of the jobs in our County require higher education or specialized training. The financial impact of not addressing the graduation gap between this population and their more affluent peers who are not the first in their family to go to college is substantial. Future Link addresses these challenges head-on, by providing low-income, first generation college young adults (age 18-25) with the tools, skills and resources to achieve academic success and lasting economic self-sufficiency. Its two-phase program begins with a 15-week seminar focused on career exploration, academic planning and the development of the soft-skills that many employers state their workers are deficient in. Following the Seminar, Future Link provides its young adults with multi-year very personalized, comprehensive support that includes paid internships, tutoring, scholarships, professional development workshops and most importantly one-on-one mentorships, which research shows makes a huge difference in the outcomes for students who lack family members who can guide them through the complexities of higher education and the workforce. Through these efforts, Future Link closes the opportunity divide and levels a playing field that is often tilted against high potential, low-income, first generation college students. The result is an increasing number of insightful and productive young adults available to the County workforce who will then become contributing members of our community.
