Inclusive Economies

About Inclusive Economies

Economic mobility is about more than employment. It requires ensuring that all young people have access to opportunities to thrive, belong, and succeed in ways meaningful to them.

The Forum for Community Solutions works with communities, employers, young leaders, philanthropy, and public-sector partners to expand pathways to economic opportunity for opportunity youth. Through efforts focused on workforce development, financial wellbeing, entrepreneurship, and systems change, we help strengthen the conditions that allow young people to thrive and contribute to prosperous communities.

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Workforce & Career Pathways

 Expanding access to career pathways, quality jobs and workforce systems that help young people thrive.

We partner with communities, workforce leaders, employers, and young people to strengthen career pathways, improve job quality, expand work-based learning opportunities, and ensure young people can access meaningful employment that supports long-term economic mobility and wellbeing. This work includes employer engagement, summer youth employment, future-of-work initiatives, and investments in innovative workforce strategies. 

Financial Wellbeing & Wealth Building

Helping young people navigate financial decisions and systems, build assets, and strengthen their economic agency.

Our work explores how young people navigate financial decisions, develop healthy relationships with money, access consumer-friendly financial products and services, and build assets over time. Through research, partnerships, learning communities, and practical tools, we elevate approaches that strengthen financial capability while advancing economic agency, financial wellbeing, and long-term wealth building.

Entrepreneurship

Creating pathways for young people to develop entrepreneurial skills, launch ventures, and pursue economic opportunity through innovation. 

Entrepreneurship can provide young people with valuable opportunities to develop leadership, problem-solving, and business skills while creating pathways to economic mobility. Through research, grantmaking, and partnerships, we have supported efforts that help young people explore entrepreneurship as a tool for economic opportunity, community impact, and career development.