GBC-Education’s Big Ideas, Bright Cities Challenge helps solve an urgent problem: in the US, four million youth are not in school or employed. Millions more young people are underemployed.
The Challenge invites cities to develop bold, innovative ideas that equip young people with skills to participate in the workforce and address the Ten Standards for a Skills-Friendly City.
We are excited to launch our second Big Ideas, Bright Cities Challenge. This is a call to action for city leaders, youth-serving organizations, higher education institutions, and businesses to come together to develop bold, innovative ideas that equip young people with the skills they need for tomorrow’s workforce.
The Big Ideas, Bright Cities Challenge is a call to action for city leaders, youth-serving organizations, higher education institutions, and businesses to come together to develop bold, innovative ideas that equip young people with the skills they need for tomorrow’s workforce.
The Big Ideas, Bright Cities Challenge is based on the 10 Standards for Skills Friendly Cities developed with experts in education, workforce development, and economic development. We invite 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations to apply in partnership with any city or metro area, including county seats (large and small), businesses, and higher education institutions by 23 June, 2023.
Fifteen (15) partnerships with the highest-impact ideas to make their communities more “skills friendly” and support youth skills development will be awarded grants of up to U.S. $100.000, in-kind business support to grow their projects and join tour prestigious Skills Friendly Cities Community Incubator Program to learn from experts and peers.
Nonprofit organizations collaborating with cities (metro areas, county seats, large and small) are invited to apply. Applications must be submitted by a nonprofit organization with a registered 501(c)(3) status in good standing. Preference will be given to partnerships that involve government, youth-serving non-profits, education institutions, and businesses.
Fifteen (15) winners with the most impactful ideas to make their cities and communities more “skills friendly” and support youth skills development will be awarded grants of up to 100.000 USD, in-kind business support to grow their projects and join the renowned Skills Friendly Cities Community Incubator Program to learn from experts in youth development and education, business leaders and peers from like-minded organizations.
You can learn more about the Ten Standards for Skills Friendly Cities and the research behind the standards here.
Applications will open in May 2023. Applicants will need to complete the application form, including the required documentation, and submit the completed materials before the deadline on June 23, 2023 – 23:59 PST
The winners will be selected by a panel of judges that includes business representatives from the Global Business Coalitionfor Education, non-profits, youth leaders, and experts in education and workforce development. The judges will be announced in June 2023.
Finalists for the Big Ideas, Bright Cities challenge will be announced in Early August, and the winner will be announced in September 2023!
Big Ideas, Bright Cities initiative outlines Ten Standards needed to create a “skills friendly” city, including critical activities and indicators of success that lead to a better-prepared generation of youth ready to enter the workforce.
GBC-Education Report
A skills-friendly city fully cultivates a collaborative ecosystem for young people ages 15-25, encompassing:
