Young Adult Talent Development: How to Keep the Momentum Going during COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating to countless Americans, particularly people of color and those with low incomes. Young people from these communities have been especially hard hit. The work of organizations that foster young adult talent development, with a particular focus on youth of color and those from low-income communities, is more important than ever. This brief shares how one network of young adult leaders and youth-focused workforce development organizations have met the challenges--responding first to the worldwide health crisis and a collapsing economy, and then, reexamining their work in light of the rekindling of the Black Lives Matter movement. The insights come from both young adults and practitioners in the Young Adult Talent Development Network. Despite the formidable challenges the pandemic has presented, youth-facing community-based organizations are persevering, responding with creativity and nimbleness. As practitioners continue to adapt and innovate, the following principles and questions must be top of mind: (1) All decision-making must place young adults at the center; (2) Policy-making and collective advocacy are critical next steps; and (3) Young adults are central to an equitable recovery.