ECONOMIC MOBILITY

Our advocacy for youth economic mobility has been grounded in years of youth-led efforts to shape city policies that empower young people to build stable and independent futures.

From the start, we understood that economic insecurity, often worsened by housing instability, prevents too many young New Yorkers from accessing opportunity, feeling safe, or reaching their full potential.

In the early stages of our work, we prioritized expanding access to financial literacy education, reliable transportation, and equitable employment pathways. These are foundational tools for upward mobility.

In 2021, for example, we called for free and accessible financial literacy training and MetroCards for youth experiencing financial hardship. By 2023, we built on this vision by advocating for unlimited MetroCards for all New Yorkers aged 24 and under. We emphasized how transportation barriers directly limit access to school, work, and community engagement, and proposed youth-centered solutions to fare evasion.

Our economic mobility recommendations continue to evolve but remain focused on equipping youth with the resources, infrastructure, and support needed to move from surviving to thriving in New York City.