NAACP
A National Power building Campaign to Ensure Our Young People THRIVE!
"My mission in life is
not merely to survive,
but to thrive..."
– Maya Angelou
The Well-Being of a Nation's Children is the Best Indicator of the Health of the Nation
Our youth are the country’s present and future. They
bring the innovation, inclusive values, and intellectual
capacity to strengthen and transform our economy, civic
life, and social infrastructure.
Yet, today, too many young people are disengaged from
civic life, experiencing challenges to their mental and
physical health, and facing dire economic prospects. They
are unprepared to work with and learn from the
technology that will determine their futures and face
severe gaps in health, life expectancy and economic
outcomes based on who they are.
Providing students an opportunity to learn not just what happens in the classroom----it might help them
survive…but it alone won’t allow them to thrive.
Schott Foundation
is partnering with the NAACP on the THRIVE Campaign to impact the well-being and education of our young people.
FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING
The Shift We Demand: A Comprehensive Overview
Current State
Black youth are more likely to be pushed out of high school or blocked from post-secondary pathways—widening life expectancy and opportunity gaps.
What THRIVING Looks Like
Every young person graduates high school with a supported path to college or credentialed careers—free from racial or economic barriers.
Current State
Youth civic participation is deeply unequal. In 2024, only 25% of Black men and 40% of Black women ages 18-29 voted—compared to over 50% of white young adults.
What THRIVING Looks Like
All youth are equipped and activated with
civic education and capable of accessing and shaping the systems that shape their futures—as voters, organizers, and public leaders.
Current State
Many students don’t have the opportunity to learn critical technical skills—students of color are 12x less likely to have access to computer science courses in their high schools.
What THRIVING Looks Like
All young people have access to tools and skills to be innovators—and are protected from the harms of biased, exploitative, and surveillant technologies.
Current State
Over 20% of Black families live below the poverty line. Black children face limited access to good jobs, wealth-building, and stable housing.
What THRIVING Looks Like
Young people access careers, business and investment opportunities that provide living wages, long-term security and dignity—regardless of where they are from or their families’ economic position.
Current State
Black youth face rising suicide rates, poor access to care, and under-treatment for mental illness—from 2016 to 2017, Black youth received mental health care at nearly half the rate of white youth.
What THRIVING Looks Like
Every young person accesses high quality mental and physical care and the health living climates that allow them to expect a full life. Life expectancy gaps and systemic health disparities are actively dismantled.
NAACP it’s time to
keep your
EYES ON AI
Eyes on AI is a campaign to ensure that every young person has equitable access to the benefits of artificial intelligence and protection from its potential harms.
Here's how you can join the
movement to advance youth well-being:
GET YOUR
"EYES ON AI"
Read the Responsible AI in Education Framework and share it with your school boards, education committees, and community allies.
Take
A Stand
Raise your voice, organize locally, and help build a future where every young person can thrive—in school, in life, and in power.
In Partnership with
