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For complete report and methodology, visit Data and Sources

*The following additional sources (outside of the Opportunity Index methodology) were used in the briefing book:

Jobs

Youth unemployment rate is consistently double the national average
Source: Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings. The Plummeting Labor Market Fortunes of Teens and Young Adults. March 2014

Postsecondary Completion

By 2020, two-thirds of all U.S. jobs will require some form of post-secondary degree or credential
Source: Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce. Recovery: Job Growth and Education Requirements Through 2020. 2013

Group Membership

Civic engagement may help youth, particularly low-income teens and young adults build social capital and skills that can help them find meaningful education and career pathways
Source: Opportunity Nation. The Power of Civic Engagement: Connecting Youth and Strengthening Communities. September 2014

Volunteerism

The likelihood that a young person is disconnected from school or work drops nearly in half if he or she volunteers
Source: Opportunity Nation. The Power of Civic Engagement: Connecting Youth and Strengthening Communities. September 2014

Healthy Food

23.5 million Americans live in “food deserts” – neighborhoods that are located more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas and more than 10 miles in rural areas Source: USDA. Healthy Food Access.
Source: National Institutes of Health. The impact of the physical and urban environment on mental well-being. 2006