I team up with Target, Vital Voices and five other global women leaders for the “A New Day + Vital Voices” capsule collection. Using our lived experiences and work to design a limited collection for women ready and willing to create change. #ad

To learn more about the partnership and where to buy the collection, please visit HERE

“Through the A New Day + Vital Voices partnership, we hope to showcase the incredible work of Vital Voices while empowering and celebrating our guests,” said Michelle Mesenburg, senior vice president, marketing, Target. “It gave us the opportunity to think about collaborations differently, and how we pair the great design of one of our popular owned brands with an organization that’s doing incredible work in communities near and far.”

The women who inspired the collection… here are their stories

Watch Here--> YP4

Originally posted via HuffPost

Throughout most of my childhood and into adulthood, I can recall the numerous times people would say, “If you work hard and get a good education you could do and be anything”. Despite the fact I grew up surrounded by broken dreams and misplaced hope, this message has always resonated with me. In an environment where people wore poverty like a coat to protect them from the bitter realities of our community, I wanted something different and knew education would be my lifeline.

As the first of 16 children to graduate high school and college, I’ve seen first hand what the lack of job training can and has done to an individual’s’ ability to feed their family. Even now, more than five years since I graduated college, I stand amongst my peers- the largest youth cohort in history, more than 1.8 billion strong. I know we are lacking the basic skills needed to realize our dreams and the promise spoken of by our parents. Currently, 263 million children and youth are out of school, and millions more aren’t getting the quality education they deserve. That sits as a daunting backdrop to the fact that nearly

So what does this mean for the most digitally connected generation? Who, if current trends continue, are destined to be outsmarted and outworked by automation and technological advancement in the coming decades. Advancement that will usher in exciting innovations and new opportunities for jobs. But without the skills to adapt to the evolving job market, young people will not only be unemployable, businesses will lack the talent necessary to compete in the global economy. Even now, young people are heavily excluded from the job market with nearly 75 million currently unemployed. Coupled with a growing need for “new skills”, that number will continue to rise as technology grows.

Since 2013 the demand for skills has increased all over the world. In Australia, for example, digital skills have increased by more than 200 percent, critical thinking by 150 percent, creativity by more than 60 percent, and presentation skills by 25 percent. These demands reveal the lack of disconnect between the workforce and the classroom, leaving young people to deal with the consequences of an outdated education system. An education system, that still reflects the industrial revolution, that filters young people into assembly lines, while also waging a war on creativity.

“Regardless of where young people are in the world, only they can fully articulate their experience and help provide unique insight to the challenges they face and how to get their peers engaged and motivated to participate.“

Less than a month ago I joined the Global Business Coalition for Education as Head of Youth Engagement and Skills because it is a unique opportunity to combine my two passions – youth development and creating unlikely partnerships for the advancement of young people. These passions are what drive my ambition to help solve this growing employment crisis, one that has already turned many of my friends’ and classmates’ lives upside down. Struggling to pay back student loans at a time where they can’t find a job within their chosen field, disheartened by the sheer number of rejected job applications or turned away because they lack the basic qualifications needed due to the rapidly changing technology advances. Many of the young people I mentor who are yet to enter college are eager to find a part-time job that hasn’t yet been eliminated by a machine or find an employer who’s willing to work with their limited skills. I see it as my duty to make sure these stories aren’t overlooked or forgotten because this is reality and a human centered approach is needed if we are to move education and employability into the 21st century and beyond.

Eliminating Gaps

To address these growing concerns, we must remove the barriers for collaboration and curate a community of practice that allows for the two most impacted populations – job makers (businesses) and the job seekers (youth) – to identify challenges and develop pipelines for youth to access the skills they need to thrive. That can’t be done without first placing young people at the center of change and working with leaders who have the ability to make tangible impact. It’s not enough for leaders to deem a quality education as important, without actually ensuring that education will meet the needs of both the community and the economy.

There is a growing need for business leaders to take a more proactive and authentic approach to youth skills and workforce development that doesn’t leave out the expertise of young people. Regardless of where young people are in the world, only they can fully articulate their experience and help provide unique insight to the challenges they face and how to get their peers engaged and motivated to participate. These are issues that have even larger implications beyond any individual’s employability, they exacerbate a number of social and economic issues, putting into question the sustainability of communities around the world. An investment like this today, can help prevent the world’s largest generation of youth from being unemployed, having poor health, civil unrest, child marriage, exploitation and many other vulnerabilities.

Due to these challenges before us, I’m excited by the “Youth Skills and Innovation Initiative” a partnership between the Global Business Coalition for Education and Intel to forge an unlikely collaboration between the business community and youth leaders. A partnership that will help place young people in the driver’s seat, right along with the business community to hopefully revolutionize workforce development methods that are currently leaving too many beyond – particularly our more marginalized populations.

It’s expected that 15-year-olds today will have more than 17 jobs in five different industries over their lifetime. Let’s help to ensure that the skills they’ll learn will enable lifelong learning, in the pursuit of their dreams and for the betterment of all our communities.

I spoke to @sarahbrownuk about creating change for new #BetterAngels podcast episodes. Listen here below: 

Description: Sarah Brown talks to American activists and campaigners Jamira Burley, Michael Gibbons and Michael Silberman about the history of extraordinary campaigns for change in the U.S. and how skill-sharing, and thought leadership are moulding the entire social change field today.

According to my younger siblings, I’ve reached “old lady” status with just a few hours before my 29th birthday. So before my memory goes, I figured I would spend a few moments clearing the air and answering the top “13” questions I constantly get online. 

1. Where do I call home?  I could be cool and say I’m a resident of the world but that’s not where my pay stub gets delivered. Last month I moved from DC to the overcrowded New York City, more specifically --- I call Harlem home but only second to Philly. 
2.  How do I make my coins aka where do I work? Well as a renaissance woman with student loans, one has to diversify her income streams. Full-time, I work as the Head of Youth Engagement and Skills for the Global Business Coalition for Education.  Part-time, I work as a strategist for both private and public entities who are looking to engage impacted communities. Also, every now and again, someone will pay me to talk or facilitate a training workshop.  
3. Where do I find my passion? I find my passion in helping young people realize that they’re deserving of everything the world has to offer.
4. What did I study in college? Well I graduated from Temple University and I majored in International Business, Legal Studies with a minor in Chinese and MIS (Management and Informational Systems)
5. Would I ever consider going back to school? Yes, especially if someone else paid for it. I love learning, classroom discussions is my thing and I would probably go back for an MBA and MPA.
6. Favorite place I’ve traveled so far? Hmmm, that’s hard to say but if I had to pick, it would have to be South Africa, the food, history, culture, and people were just amazing to be around and I wasn’t ready to come home.
7. Where do I want to travel next? I haven’t really explored much of Latin America, I would love to spend some time there but I also hope to go back to parts of Asia before the end of the year. Will keep y’all posted!
8. Biggest accomplishment to date? Finally giving myself permission to be great.
9. Biggest Fear? Not meeting my own expectations.
10. Best cheese steak place in Philly? Larry’s, Jims or Ishkabibble’s … I don’t trust anywhere else.
11. Current Book? I’m currently listening to “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” By Mark Manson on Audible and reading “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” by Klaus Schwab.
12. Celebrity role model? Other than Beyonce?...well I’m a huge fan of Mellody Hobson, haven’t met her yet but I’ve literally read everything about her and watched all her speeches at least 5 times each.
13. One thing you want to learn? I can’t pick one, so Chinese and French.

In honor of the International Youth Day, here are ten alarming facts about youth and why we can't  underestimate the need for decision makers (governments, the business community, and international organizations)  to have a sense of urgency, to help foster collaboration and ensure youth are able to fully participate in society. 

Fun Fact: There are nearly 1.8 billion young people in the world, which is the largest youth population in written history.

1. More than 263 million young people are out of school and millions more are receiving a piss poor education. 
2. Approximately 238 million youth live in extreme poverty—that is, they live on less than $1 a day; 462 million youth survive on less than $2 a day.
3.  110 million youth live in hunger.
4. About 255 million young people live in the 19 countries with the largest poverty gaps; 15 of these 19 countries are in sub-Saharan Africa.
5. About 133 million youth in the world are illiterate.
6. Youth comprise 41 percent of the world's unemployed people.
7. 50% of the jobs we are training young people, will not exist when they enter the workforce. 
8. 75 million youth are unemployed 
9. Youth make up 40% of the world's unemployed population 
10. Worldwide some 200,000 homicides occur among youth 10–29 years of age each year, which is 43% of the total number of homicides globally each year.

"Listen in as Vital Voices President, Alyse Nelson, sits down with human rights defender, social good strategist, and Founder of GenYNOT, Jamira Burley." -Vital Voices 

Listen in as Vital Voices President, Alyse Nelson, sits down with human rights defender, social good strategist, and Founder of GenYNOT, Jamira Burley

Last month, I had the pleasure of standing beside gun violence advocates from across the country, for the announcement of Google.org $2 million investment  -- into reducing gun violence in communities of color. This grant was announced as a part of new national gun violence prevention campaign; aims to accelerate evidence-based prevention in communities heavily impacted by gun violence. 

As a consultant with the Community Justice Reform Coalition, some of that funding will allow me to develop and manage the Community Justice Speakers Bureau. A 12-month intergenerational leadership development program, that’ll mentor directly impacted individuals working at the intersection of criminal justice reform and gun violence prevention.  The program objectives are to increase the sustainability of the work by training leaders in communities across the country and equipping them with the necessary skills to enable maximum impact in the lives of people everywhere.

Over the course of 12 months, leaders will work side-by-side with leading experts in the areas of criminal justice and gun violence prevention, they’ll participate in online professional development workshops, to help enhance their speaking and advocacy ability. Also, leaders will have numerous opportunities to represent their work on the national stage. We believe that to build strong and safe communities, we first have to build strong leaders and place them at the center of change.

A few weeks ago in Johannesburg, South Africa, Vital Voices -- in partnership with Ponds launched their VVLead Fellowship. With more than 50 females,  from over 25 countries, who are transforming communities, breaking down barriers and shifting cultures all over the world. The goal of the fellowship is to champion the "inner strength of women" everywhere, by investing in women leaders, to ensure they're more equipt to make a tangible impact. Over the course of 21-months, fellows will participate in a customized fellowship experience that includes:

• Specialized online and in-person training(s) 
• Powerful networking, peer mentoring and relationship building opportunities
• Increased international visibility through Pond’s and the Vital Voices Global leaders network

In the end, their work will enable for life-long connections that will transcend culture and borders. ....

I along with 5 other women, was selected as global ambassadors. To both help elevate the work being done but also help provide peer to peer mentoring for the fellows. Other ambassadors include:

• Saskia Nino de Rivera, founder & president of Reinserta Un Mexicano A.C, Mexico
• Kiran Sethi, founder & educator, Riverside School, India, and Design for Change Global; 
• Samar Minallah Khan , an anthropologist & documentary filmmaker from Pakistan;
• Anne Githuku-Shongwe, founder of AFROES Transformational Games and Representative at UN WOMEN in South Africa;
• Devi Asmarani, co-founder of Magdalene Magazine.

I look forward to working alongside the ambassadors and fellows to ensure that the world around us, starts to appreciate and celebrate the unique leadership qualities women have enlisted to create a world that is both welcoming and thriving ... for the betterment of everyone. 

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking at the City College of New York, to their Entrepreneurship Student Club; about my own journey but also everyone's responsibility to join the movement. While all, if not most of the students there were interested in creating or maintaining their own business. They were also deeply concerned about the state of our world and what they could do, to solve some of our most pressing issues. Below are four pieces of advice I gave to them.

1. Own your truth: Don't allow anyone (including yourself) to make you feel a shame for where you come from or your experiences. Rather use that to fuel your passion and to inform how you show up in the work.
2. Purpose Not Position: If you lead with why this work is important to you and what you can contribute to the space, you don't have to worry about having a title. Also, one doesn't have to be the President of the United States to make an impact. Many of our victories have been led by ordinary people. 
3. If it's for the clicks and retweets, you're doing it for the wrong reasons: In the era of social media, many people equate the number of followers to success and that drive, for social media recognition will never be more important than the lives at risk. 
4. Empathy isn't enough: Feeling sorry for someone isn't enough, we actually need you to fight alongside us, with you feet in marches, with your vote at the ballot or with your wallet, when the work needs to be funded. Just caring without doing anything, won't save lives.