A grant from the C. S. Mott Foundation ensures that NYEC members are actively engaged in: informing the implementation of federal policies for disconnected youth, particularly the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA),and building the evidence base of quality practice to serve disconnected youth. 

This grant funding supports the work of NYEC Consultants Kate O'Sullivan and Don Spangler, both nationally known experts in youth-employment policy and practice. Kate worked at NYEC from 1995-2008. She built NYEC's hallmark quality standards effort, the Promising and Effective Practices Network (PEPNet). She contributed to numerous NYEC policy initiatives, including efforts related to the development and implementation of the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA). As an independent consultant since 2008, she has helped networks and funders -- public and private, at the national and local levels -- to develop, deliver, support, assess, and improve youth employment programs and systems.

Don has served as policy advisor to the Philadelphia Youth Network, one of the nation's leading youth workforce intermediary organizations, since its inception in 1999, where he developed extensive expertise in WIA youth activities and related aspects of youth education, employment and training.  A long-time chair of NYEC's Policy and Legislative Working Group, Don also has considerable state-level experience in youth-related issues, serving as policy director for the Pennsylvania Department of Education where he helped to lead statewide reform efforts focusing on high schools, career and technical education, and youth employment.