Removing Barriers Through Connectivity

For many youth, access to education and employment opportunities depends on reliable internet access. Through a partnership with Mobile Beacon, JAG-NM is helping expand that access for OOS participants who do not have regular or stable internet.

Hotspots are already being used by Out Of School participants across the state including southeastern New Mexico and the transitional living program at New Day Youth & Family Services. JAG-NM is working toward expanding this support to in-school students, especially in rural communities and for youth navigating additional barriers to education and employment.

With reliable internet access, youth can participate in online high school, attend virtual classes, research career pathways, apply for jobs, complete applications for college or training programs, access email, look up local resources, and continue building their next-step plans with JAG-NM support.

Mobile Beacon is also partnering with JAG-NM on a case study to better understand how stable internet access impacts education and employment outcomes. One early example is a youth who is now able to attend online high school because a hotspot helped address transportation barriers that made in-person school difficult.

This partnership reflects a simple but powerful idea: when youth have access to the tools they need, they are better able to participate, persist, and move forward.