81% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch and today, a sudden loss of income that can be an insurmountable challenge for them and their families. Our students weren’t away on a spring break trip when this pandemic hit. They were working in their internships while still going to high school. Their paychecks weren’t used to buy the latest iPhone or a new car. Their paychecks helped support their families.

As many parents face losing their paychecks, their child’s modest income becomes ever more critical to meet the most basic of needs.

To put this into perspective, 72% earn the same or more than at least one parent. They are working hard to change their future, to get on the path to upward economic mobility. The lack of opportunity for these young professionals could be the difference between having and not having a career. But it’s more essential than that. Because having and not having a career for these students can mean the difference between a life of adversity and breaking the cycle in order to achieve their full potential.

Genesys Works is a nonprofit that partners with leading corporations to provide low-income high school students a pathway to a meaningful career. This means providing students with skills training and internships that deliver the income, tools and opportunities to carve a new path for themselves toward a more prosperous future. Succeeding in a professional work environment while still in high school can be the first step on the path to upward economic mobility - creating a ripple effect that lasts for generations.

We know that the road to financial stability is much steeper for those undertaking hourly, rather than salaried, employment.

As interns, Genesys Works young professionals earn between $13–17K during their senior year of high school, while Genesys Works alumni have median earnings of $45–50K five years after Genesys Works. This means that nearly half of Genesys Works alumni end up earning more than one parent, while a quarter are earning more than both of their parents combined. While the individual impact is clear, the overall effect is far greater, as the success of Genesys Works’ alumni impacts and influences others, building a stronger foundation for their community’s economic future.

In times of hardships, inequities are exacerbated. I write this today with a mixture of emotions: concern for what the future holds for our students and their families, but also pride as I witness the resilience of the young people we serve - students who have time and again faced challenges and risen above them. As the situation continues to develop, here’s where we stand today.72