For a bright, but discouraged high school student, or a teenage mother with no place to live and dreams to pursue, one big intervention plus a blanket of supportive services can change a life. The Urban Alliance Foundation was created to introduce low-income high school students to the real world of work through academic tutoring, mentoring, and internships, plus access to the social services needed to help those youngsters succeed. Urban Alliance has helped hundreds of teens and young adults - mostly female - get mentorsships and paid internships with employers including the World Bank, National Public Radio, and Merrill Lynch. High school graduates can apply to the Health Careers Program, which gives them a job at Providence Hospital, a monthly stipend, tutoring, child care support, and admission to the three-year nursing program at the University of the District of Columbia. Upon completing the program, students can graduate with an RN (registered nurse) license and begin working at Providence Hospital with a starting salary of $41,600.

“A grant from The Women’s Foundation enabled Urban Alliance to host a Certified Nursing Assistant class that immediately increased students’ earning capacity,” said Urban Alliance Director Veronica Nolan.