The Background The new economy is marked by continual technological disruption and innovation that is empowering people to transform our world. As technologies change, so do the skill sets that are in high demand as well as the definitions of employment and work. Unfortunately, the region’s economic prosperity is hindered by a widening gap in economic opportunities among residents, education […]
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The Background A growing body of research indicates that the strength of a person’s social network and community connections – their social capital – plays a role in their lifetime economic trajectory. In 2022, research published by Raj Chetty and colleagues in the journal Nature honed in on the importance of social connections across economic […]
Read More… from Creating Economic Connectedness to Support Young People’s Economic Mobility
The Background In October 2022, economists from Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research found that recent learning losses in K-12 students’ math attainment “would represent a 1.6 percent decline in present value of lifetime earnings for the average K-12 student (or $19,400), totaling $900 billion for the 48 million students enrolled in public schools […]
Read More… from Addressing Learning Loss for Pre-K through Grade 12 Students
The Background The new economy is marked by continual technological disruption and innovation that is empowering people to transform our world. As technologies change, so do the skill sets that are in high demand as well as the definitions of employment and work. The Pittsburgh region has the opportunity to become a beacon for talent and employment opportunities in the […]
The Background During the past two years, thousands of individuals in the region were either unable to attend or cancelled routine health screenings. The data from the Centers for Disease Control, life insurance companies, and other sources at the national level is beginning to reveal how the lack of routine screenings during Covid-19 has translated […]
The Background In recent years, a field of research has emerged showing the potential to treat aging as a disease. While much of the knowledge from this research has been obtained through animal and yeast models, its implications for human health and quality of life are profound. By finding interventions that slow the rate of […]
The Background Invasive plants are threatening the ecological integrity of many of these natural lands and waters and undermining the conservation value of important habitats, including those with high biodiversity value. The Richard King Mellon Foundation is issuing a request for proposals (RFP) aimed at stopping or slowing the spread of such harmful, non-native plant […]
Read More… from Invasive Plant Species as a Threat to Native Biodiversity
Overview and Purpose Since its founding in 1947, the Richard King Mellon Foundation has invested approximately $1 billion to conserve and restore critical habitats in Pennsylvania and nationally, and to promote sustainable economic development and create livable communities in and around those critical habitats. In the process, the Foundation has protected more than 4 million […]
Read More… from Conservation Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation
The Background Postsecondary education is education, occupational training, or skills development that occurs after obtaining a high school diploma or GED and that results in a certification, diploma, or degree. Postsecondary education plays an important role in economic mobility. In general, greater levels of postsecondary credential attainment correspond to increased individual lifetime earnings. Expanding the […]
The Background School attendance is a necessary ingredient for educational attainment. When students of any age are chronically absent – missing approximately 10% or more of school days – they may have difficulty learning to read, transitioning between grades, or graduating high school. Chronic absenteeism can be related to truancy, which only accounts for unexcused […]