Opportunity@Work

We're delighted to announce that Opportunity@Work has received a grant of $20 million from Yield Giving, the groundbreaking philanthropy founded by MacKenzie Scott. This investment will accelerate our efforts to drive $20 billion in wage gains for workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs). #HireSTARs #TearThePaperCeiling #Grant #workforcedevelopment Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eN9brmaR

On February 5th, Danielle Guadeloupe-Rojas, Director of Strategic Corporate Partnerships at Opportunity@Work will interview Peter Barth, CEO of Flatiron School to discuss his professional journey as a STAR - an Individual Skilled Through Alternative Routes. STARs make up over half the work force - and their impact and influence is undeniable. Join the conversation and reserve your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/ekkdN8CR #HireSTARs #SkillsFirst 

The first episode of the Paperless Pathways podcast is OUT TODAY! Episode 1 takes us back to the Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign’s roots and why it’s reshaping the future of work. Stream now: https://lnkd.in/gDmwzREy #PaperlessPathways #TearThePaperCeiling #STARsMovement #HireSTARs

In 2024 we unveiled our new STARs Public Sector Hub! This interactive network and resource hub is a place where public sector officials can find the tools and support they need to implement skills-first, STAR-centered strategies to address their workforce challenges. Get started: https://lnkd.in/eCENKr5h #HireSTARs #PublicSector

We are blown away by the support we've received for our One of Millions Challenge. The goal of this challenge was to highlight STAR Stories and share the effect that the paper ceiling has on these workers skilled through alternative routes rather than a bachelor's degree. Here we are over 1000 stories later... The winners or our challenge, YUPRO Placement, submitted 194 STAR stories to the #OneOfMillions #TearthePaperCeiling challenge! As part of this achievement, YUPRO Placement's past apprentice Aaliyah Siddiqi’s powerful story was displayed on a NYC Times Square billboard! Learn more about the paper ceiling and the value of skills-first hiring: https://lnkd.in/dz9dpC8S #TearThePaperCeiling #OneofMillions #HireSTARs

We're working to shift the conversation from what's 'missing' to what is possible. We know that STARS - individuals Skilled Through Alternative Routes - have capacity to build impressive, thriving, and impactful careers, without a college degree. Join the conversation to hear Peter Barth's story as a lifelong learner, and lessons along the way to CEO. Reserve your seat here: https://lnkd.in/ekkdN8CR #HireSTARs #SkillsFirst Flatiron School

In the past two years, 25 states have enacted executive orders and legislation to reduce unnecessary degree requirements for public sector jobs, signaling a shift toward skill-based hiring. This paper with the National Bureau of Economic Research by Justin Heck, Blair Corcoran de Castillo, Peter Blair & Papia Debroy examines the impact of these policy commitments on public perceptions, media coverage, and job posting practices in the time following their adoption. https://lnkd.in/edhUEKdB #HiresSTARs #SkillsFirst #PublicSector

Introducing the Paperless Pathways podcast, premiering one week from today! This podcast isn’t just a series of conversations—it’s a movement. We’re amplifying STARs (individuals Skilled Through Alternative Routes), rethinking hiring practices, and showing how skills—beyond degrees—can transform industries and lives. 🌟 Episode 1 takes us back to the Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign’s roots and why it’s reshaping the future of work. 💥 Save the date: January 29, 2025! 💥 Together, we’ll tear the paper ceiling and unlock the full potential of our workforce. #PaperlessPathways #TearThePaperCeiling #STARsMovement #HireSTARs

Opportunity@Work is thrilled to be co-hosting a virtual fireside chat with STAR and Flatiron School CEO Peter Barth. Pete is a lifelong learner & Skilled Through Alternative Routes. Join the conversation about building a thriving career without a traditional college degree. Join the conversation and reserve your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/ekkdN8CR #HireSTARs #SkillsFirst 

The labor market is broken: millions of Americans are overlooked simply because they don’t have a bachelor’s degree. Opportunity@Work and America Forward are addressing this challenge with a new set of joint recommendations for the Trump-Vance Administration to advance skills-based talent strategies — hiring workers based on their skills and experience, not whether they hold a four-year degree — across the federal government. Learn more in our recent blog by Gina Rosen: https://lnkd.in/eA8tkDW8 #PublicSector #SkillsFirst #HireSTARs