Mission
children experience the fundamental resources needed to succeed — the Five Promises (Caring Adults, Safe Places, A Healthy Start, Effective Education, and Opportunities to Help Others) — at home, in school and out in the community. Together with partner organizations, the success of the children is grounded in experiencing these Promises. America’s Promise Alliance is proof that the power of the alliance is greater than the sum of its separate parts.
Purpose
America’s Promise Alliance focus’ on ending the high school dropout crisis and ensuring that students graduate ready for college and the 21st century workforce. The Grad Nation campaign, launched in 2010, is the centerpiece of these efforts.
The situation is urgent: Every 26 seconds, a student drops out of high school. We cannot afford to lose one out of four students to the dropout crisis – more than 1 million every year. For African-American and Hispanic students, the likelihood of graduating is closer to only one in two.
Of those students who do graduate, many lack the basic skills they need to succeed. It is also critical to start early, as early grade reading scores are a proven predictor of who will drop out. The high school dropout crisis demonstrates a critical shortage of the Five Promises in the lives of millions of children.
Strength
America’s Promise Alliance’s hundreds of national partners and their local affiliates give America’s Promise a strong presence in every state and thousands of communities across the country. The focus is on the young people and their schools and communities that need us the most. America’s Promise Alliance unites dedicated individuals, organizations and communities working together to end the dropout crisis and ensure that every young person can live up to their full potential.
Youth Engagement
Youth are an integral part of the America’s Promise Alliance. They provide fresh perspectives, energy and enthusiasm, and close connections with peers and young children. Across the country, young people are working hard to fulfill the Five Promises in many ways: volunteering and organizing projects; speaking up for what kids need; getting their friends involved. America's Promise values not only the actions of young people, but also their leadership. Visit the website to learn about opportunities to get involved with America's Promise, incredible stories of young leaders around the country, and resources to help you help more children and youth get more of the Promises they need, including information about the new My Idea Grants program.
The Impact Network for America’s Promise
The Impact Network, an alliance of young leaders from across the nation, unites and empowers youth to take action through and with the support of America's Promise Alliance partners to address the challenges facing their communities. Impact Network members are crucial contributors to the principal goal of America’s Promise — leveraging the Five Promises framework to help America’s most disadvantaged youth and contribute to the Grad Nation campaign.
Through the Network, young leaders amplify their impact by joining a national movement of civically-engaged peers who are taking action working within networks and communities to make a difference. The Impact Network is the umbrella for all youth-related opportunities offered by America’s Promise.
For more information about America’s Promise Alliance, visit
www.americaspromise.org
Owner/Editor - Chris Chmielewski