Young people are entering the workforce at a moment when mental health needs are rising, identity and belonging are under strain, and expectations for “work readiness” are shifting fast. The result is a gap in confidence, stability, and support that occasionally gets mislabeled as a skills problem.

Join NationSwell and International Youth Foundation for a virtual roundtable on Youth Mental Health and Workforce Readiness, where leaders from business, philanthropy, and the social sector will dig into what it takes for young people to thrive at work today. We’ll explore how youth mental health, identity safety, and core life skills like resilience, self-advocacy, and relationship-building shape persistence and performance—and what it looks like to build a school-to-work pipeline that doesn’t ignore the human side of readiness.

Together, we’ll surface practical strategies for aligning schools, employers, and community systems to expand opportunity for young people while strengthening talent pipelines and long-term value for employers and communities.

To encourage open and candid discussion, this event follows the Chatham House Rule – attendees may share insights from the conversation but cannot attribute statements to specific individuals or organizations. This ensures a trusted space for thoughtful dialogue and deeper insights.