STATEMENT FROM CAMBA ON BUDGET RESTORATION OF LEARNING TO WORK (LTW) FUNDING

CAMBA today released the following statement on behalf of CAMBA President & CEO Joanne Oplustil regarding Friday’s restorations made to the City’s education budget:

“We thank Mayor Adams, Speaker Adams, Council Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph, and all our dedicated City Council Members for having the backs of our young people and working to ensure they have a future. Friday’s $31 million restoration to the City’s education budget is tremendous news for the hundreds of young people CAMBA serves each year through its Learning To Work program.

“Over the past decade, CAMBA’s LTW program has helped nearly 5,200 students – more than 90% of whom are Black, Latino or Asian – rediscover their paths to a successful life. This program has proven to be incredibly successful in helping re-engage students who have fallen behind academically and failed to thrive in a traditional high school seUng.

“Last year alone, CAMBA’s LTW celebrated 565 students graduating from high school. Based on feedback from 468 of these graduates, 75% of them went on to enter post-secondary education or the workforce. As part of the program, 700 students participated in paid internships, earning more than $1.5 million, transforming those students’ educational and career pathways.

“We look forward to continuing to provide our LTW students with the academic and student support, career and educational development, and post-secondary advising and preparation they need to reach their goals.”