Many are feeling the impact of a sluggish economy and high unemployment rates, but 1 in 6 young Americans are in danger of being left behind. According to a report from Columbia University and CUNY/Queens College, 6.7 million young adults are out of school, unemployed, and not learning skills necessary for a successful future.

This group is not, however, without hope. White House Council for Community Solutions has dubbed them “Opportunity Youth” and announced a plan for a 100-day initiative to mobilize communities and invest in disconnected youth. Patty Stonesifer, chair of the Council, said, “From family to government – we all have a role to play to help disconnected youth… the Council and its partners hope to spur thoughtful community discussions and a national dialogue that leads to reconnecting these young people with the supports they need to move forward.”

That support will vary from mentoring and job-shadowing to internships. To help facilitate these partnerships, toolkits containing guides and studies have been created. The Community Collaboratives Toolbox and the Connecting Youth and Business Toolkit were “designed to help organizations of all sizes make a long-term commitment to helping our young adults realize their potential – by providing them with the mentoring, training, or those first jobs that put them on a trajectory for lifelong success,” said Bobbi Silten, senior vice president, global responsibility and president, Gap Foundation at Gap Inc.

During February and March, United Way Worldwide will host about 30 town hall discussions across the country to encourage dialogue about this issue. The Youth Leadership Institute will work with “Youth Ambassadors” to ensure that the people this initiative is working to help are heard. Ultimately, at the end of the allotted time period, a Summit for Youth will be held and the Council will submit a final report to the White House.

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