The term “opportunity youth” is a relatively new phrase to describe young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not in school and not participating in the labor force. But for years, they've been defined as at-risk, dropouts, disconnected or delinquents.

The Newark Opportunity Youth Network (NOYN) was established to change this narrative through the collective work of public and private organizations, focused on supporting opportunity youth and transforming the way they are educated and prepared for post-secondary learning, careers, and life.

Though Newark is not the only U.S. community working to address the needs of opportunity youth, we are charting a new path to success.

More than 100,000 opportunity youth have fallen through the widening opportunity gap in New Jersey

Since its inception in 2016, NOYN has received about 4,300 applications for its programs and served more than 700 opportunity youth across Essex County

Nationally, 20 percent of opportunity youth re-engage and receive their high school diploma while LEAD students exceed expectations with a combined 75 percent graduation rate.

LEAD also touts an overall recidivism rate of 12.2% (2019), compared to the state’s most recently reported rate of 52.4% (2016)

New Jersey annually spends $16,000 (2020-21) in LEAD’s per pupil funding compared to the annual $289,287 (2019) spent per youth in state youth prisons

The population includes:

90%    Black/African American

10%    Hispanic/LatinX

56%    Male

44%    Female

70%    Economically Disadvantaged