A Year Up: Helping Young Adults Move from Poverty to Professional Careers in a Single Year

by Gerald Chertavian

“[Chertavian] demonstrates that with hard work and the right supports … young adults can overcome even the toughest of circumstances.”—Geoffrey Canada, president and CEO, Harlem Children’s Zone

There are many good jobs in America—and many urban young adults eager to take them—if they can bridge the Opportunity Divide that strands many motivated workers at the bottom of the job ladder.

In 2000, Gerald Chertavian, a successful technology entrepreneur and banker, dedicated his life and business expertise to founding Year Up, an intensive one-year program that provides otherwise stranded young adults with training, mentorship, internships, and ultimately real jobs. Following a single Year Up class from admission through graduation, A Year Up lets students share – in their own words- the challenges, failures, and personal successes they experience during the program. It is the inspiring story of a pioneering program that is bridging the Opportunity Divide, with results that can fuel our economy and revive the American ideal of equal opportunity for all.

Genres: Education, Business, Nonfiction, Economics, Biography, Autobiography, American

368 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2012

Reviews

[Poonam Dubal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on my partner's recommendation and was really surprised by it! Chertavian recognized that he had been given a "year up" or a leg up by various people in his life. Many of us have- it's a part of whatever type of privilege you hold. You didn't get anywhere on your own, so why do we expect youth in difficult situations to figure it out on their own? Chertavian's program combines explicit instruction in "soft skills" like dress, speech, punctuality, etc. with explicit instruction in workplace skills. This yearlong program asks a lot of its participants, but has also helped to launch many out of a cycle of poverty and into well-paying jobs where they earn recognition and find meaning. Year Up has been launched in many major cities across the nation and is coming to Dallas soon! Get involved!

[anu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've worked with a number of Year Up interns in my organization over the years, so I was already sold on Year Up, and their impact.

The big takeaway for me from the book was about how to build a nonprofit venture that, by design, meets the people it serves as equals. Very few nonprofits, though well intentioned, are are able to achieve this.

Does a pretty good job of describing Year Up's disciplined approach in achieving its mission, the focus on measurable impact and outcomes, and its innovative business model that frees the organization from relying only on grants and donations for funding.

Four stars instead of five because I would have liked to learn more about the mistakes they made along the way, the truly big ones that really hurt and how they learned from these.

[Dawdu Amantanah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Closing the opportunity divide one student at a time. Success is achievable in 12 months and I'm a testament to that so this book hits home. Gerald Chertavian stepped away from a six-figure paycheck on Wall Street to mentor and educate impoverished young adults tapping into their hidden talents and opportunities with a 12-month work development program called Year Up. Gerald shows his brilliance for social change in this book as students explain their humble beginnings turned success stories attending the Year Up program.

[Dele Tosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting insight into this social entrepreneur.

If you're looking to read about the actual mechanics of the Year Up program, this book doesn't deliver, disappointingly.

Lots of antidotes and stories though.

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Has some valid points and information, it's heart is in the right place but reeks of white saviorism.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

5.2 million young adults ages 18-24 are not employed or in higher education. Introduced to the reality of these "disconnected youth" by his Little Brother David, Harvard Business School grad and Wall Street banker Gerald Chertavian aims to close the Opportunity Divide. He founded Year Up, a nonprofit that pays young adults to learn technical, professional and communication skills for six months and then places them in six month internships with Fortune 500 companies. While some workforce development programs have abysmal placement rates, more than 80% of Year Up graduates are employed or in school full-time four months after graduation.

I had some issues with Chertavian's writing, as I thought going back and forth in time and quoting many people made the narrative choppy and I was frustrated by his constant name dropping. However I was blown away by Year Up's successes. I loved reading the stories of determined students overcoming tremendous obstacles in stressful situations to start rewarding careers. I liked Chertavian's "authentic leadership based on clearly articulated values, well-crafted and well-executed strategy, and getting the right people in the right seats" and bedrock belief "that no matter how difficult their upbringings, our students have as much talent as anyone, given the opportunity to develop it." I was also impressed by his honesty about difficult topics, such as Year Up's struggles to become a more culturally competent organization, and his determination to reach as many students as possible.

Thanks Krysti for recommending this inspiring and hopeful book. I highly recommend it to others.

[Margaret (Mags) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book epitomizes why I have fallen in love with this organization from the second I watched Year Up profiled on 60 Minutes back in 2014. Throughout the entire book Gerald Chertavian pores his belief and respect into the students this organization serves. And yes, the history and business operations from inception to launching each site is highlighted too. But the powerful under and overarching theme of this book is at the heart of the organization, the students. And Year Up has heart.

I think I also appreciate this book because he has documented something I've struggled to explain to my family and peers...who Year Up students are: the trauma and hardships they'e endured, the reality in which they live, the brokenness of so many homes and communities. I also laud his humility (which one observes every day when interacting with him) and admission of mistakes and growth he has undergone, particularly around diversity and inclusion issues. He is constantly learning.

When serving people is at the center of an organizational mission with an urgency to close an economic and professional divide, going to work each day is a whole different ball game. It really isn't work, it's a privilege. I am honored to have been part of it.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer--My son works for Year Up, and this makes me very proud.

I was interested in learning more about this non-profit and their goal of closing the "opportunity gap" ever since my son first told me of Year Up's mission. Reading Chertavian's tale of how he pulled together private business and motivated urban youth was inspiring, and a great story of how people want to succeed, but oftentimes need the most basic of tools--a decent wardrobe, a caring mentor, an alarm clock, to get to work on time.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn what's being done to help young people succeed against the odds, and how businesses working with motivated and talented young people create a true win/win for the individuals, and for American society as a whole.

[Roger Smitter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chertavian has a gift for describing in succint but powerful ways how his Year UP program has changed the lives of young learners. It's inspiring. However, if you are looking for a model to improve the opportunities for innter-city kids, the book seems too idiosyncratic to be of much help. There's little reflection on best to build a program.

However, I've saved one One piece of advice from the book: By its nature, social entrepreneurship has to meld the compassionate with the corporate (p. 181).

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two things:

The program Chertavian has developed is absolutely inspiring, extremely well-conceived, very cool and 100% laudable. Also very relevant to volunteer work I do with incarcerated teens.

Having said that, I really struggled with the book. I wanted the meat of what made the program work, and I had to wade through so much of his personal story and moderately interesting anecdotes to get it.

[Anju J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read if you don't understand what children/youth of color are going through everyday in America as the struggle to obtain their own American Dream. Definitely worth the read if you work with young adults in the non profit sector and want to assist in creating a pipeline of college and career ready.

[Lini · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give the Year Up program 5 stars, the book only 3. Still I would recommend it. The program sounds pretty amazing. It has really given so many talented disadvantaged youths the skills and support to change their lives.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so inspirational! It is the story of how a man with substantial wealth gave back by helping bright, talented youth get a heads up in life. But mostly, it is the stories of so many young people who overcame so much to land good jobs and new starts in life.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the concept of this school/work program for urban youth. Hated his writing style - so dry! Probably a great read if you're thinking of starting your own non-profit.

[Cydnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needed tighter editing.

[Shane]

This is an inspiring story about social entrepreneurship, concerning how a Wall Street banker created an organization that serves urban kids from poor backgrounds and helps them learn job skills, eventually culminating in many of them landing internships and jobs with Fortune 500 companies. I was expecting more of a nonfiction approach in this book, more of a straightforward explanation of how he created this organization. The author chose instead to present a lot of stories, which works well for the topic, it's just not my preferred modality. Good book for those who want to be change agents and care about the poor.