Over the next two years, our goal is to guide 250 young adults through training and career exploration and toward securing meaningful employment. Industry demand in Connecticut remains strong: according to the August 2025 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey from the U.S. Department of Labor, there are more than 82,000 open positions across the state. This underscores a critical mismatch: many jobs are available, but the workforce is not ready. Each individual success story from this program will bring the state one step closer to closing this employment gap.

Youth that become disconnected from education and workforce systems are not a lost cause. They are our neighbors, our future colleagues, our children’s peers. Many face significant challenges — poverty, trauma, housing instability — but they also bring potential, perspective, and resilience. We are committed to meeting them where they are by creating on-ramps to the workforce that reflect today’s realities. Philanthropic investment plays a critical role in making this happen. The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation understands that solving complex social and economic challenges requires private-sector leadership and community collaboration. Their support for P2E Youth is more than a grant; it is a belief in what is possible when we work together.