Newsroom

By Richard Fry & Amanda Barroso, Pew Research Center, July 29, 2020 As COVID-19 cases have surged in the United States, young adults face a weakening labor market and an uncertain educational outlook. Between February and June 2020, the share of young adults who are neither enrolled in school nor employed – a measure some […]

We are thrilled to celebrate 24 amazing students from Edgewater High School and Jones High School who recently graduated from the Opportunity Jobs Academy (OJA). These students went above-and-beyond to complete a course of study that is traditionally held after school. Through the assistance of our job coaches, the majority of the curriculum was administered […]

The Opportunity Jobs Academy (OJA) will proudly begin its tenth class at Edgewater High School and second class at Jones High School in February 2020. The OJA program showcases workplace skills, real-world education and hands-on mentoring to guide students towards fulfilling careers and financial independence. Our ideal participant is seeking career exposure and guidance, and to […]

By Tajiana Ancora Brown, Walt Disney World Resort, September 23, 2019 Walt Disney World Resort is the biggest cheerleader of local nonprofit youth organizations who are working to make a difference for Central Florida children – and Orlando After-School All-Stars is knocking it out of the park with their mission to prepare students for success! […]

The Opportunity Jobs Academy (OJA) will begin its ninth class at Edgewater High School and inaugural class at Jones High School in September 2019. The OJA program showcases workplace skills, real-world education and hands-on mentoring to guide students towards fulfilling careers and financial independence. The current curriculum is produced in partnership with the American Hotel […]

By Alicia Sasser Modestino, FORTUNE, August 3, 2019 The U.S. is currently experiencing its longest stretch of continuous monthly job creation and the lowest unemployment rate (3.7%) in 50 years. And while a tight labor market often improves job prospects for typically hard-to-employ groups with fewer skills and less experience, the rate of teen employment […]

By Kate Rogers, CNBC, July 5, 2019 Janiya Hill is kicking off her second summer working at Pucker Lemonades & Beach Fries in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The 16-year-old is making $10.50 an hour — 50 cents an hour above the state’s new minimum wage — working the register and serving up cold drinks and […]

By Drew Desilver, Pew Research Center, June 27, 2019 School’s out for summer, and U.S. teens are headed for … where, exactly? Probably not to a paying job, according to Pew Research Center’s latest analysis of federal employment data. As recently as two decades ago, roughly half of U.S. teens could expect to spend at […]

By Chip Rogers & Carol Dover, Guest Columnists, Orlando Sentinel As the first American city to surpass 70 million annual visitors, the city of Orlando has the opportunity to expand what has already been an impactful partnership and synergy between the hotel industry and opportunity youth. With hospitality and tourism bringing over $70 billion to […]

ORLANDO, FL (March 28, 2019) – Today, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation (AHLEF) and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) announced a grant commitment of $75,000 to help Orlando community-based organizations – Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and the Orlando After-School All-Stars – recruit individuals to join the […]