Grant Fuels New Era of Workforce Development

The Valley of the Sun United Way has received a significant boost with a $210,000 grant from the NBA Foundation, aimed at enhancing its Pathways to Economic Opportunity program. This initiative specifically targets young Black and Latina women in Maricopa County.

These communities often face barriers that limit their access to career opportunities. Statistics reveal a troubling trend: Black women earn only $0.66 and Latinas $0.52 for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. In Arizona, this translates into a staggering annual income gap of $19,156 for Black women and $25,511 for Latinas.

The Pathways to Economic Opportunity program is designed for women aged 16-29 and focuses on closing the gender and racial wealth gaps. The program provides essential services such as job-skills training, mentorship pairings, internships, apprenticeships, and financial literacy workshops. It operates in collaboration with several partners, including Chicanos Por La Causa, the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation, Pipeline AZ, Year Up Arizona, and YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix.

Currently, the program is looking for mentors and mentees for the upcoming 2024-25 cohort. Interested individuals can find more information on the Valley of the Sun United Way’s website at www.vsuw.org/pathways.