The Work of Opportunity
Updates
Sep 29, 2025
As the US approaches its 250th anniversary, we are reflecting on America’s founding ideals—and asking whether the promise of opportunity still holds true today.
Featured
Media
Dec 18, 2018
Set It and Forget It: How Better Contraception Could Be a Key to Reducing Poverty
The New York Times reports on Delaware’s ambitious bid to offer one-stop shopping for birth control, describing the program made possible by Upstream’s training and technical assistance “a social experiment that other states will be watching.”
Media
Dec 5, 2018
This Free Program Trains Students and Matches Them with Paid IT Internships
The Penny Hoarder, a personal finance website, describes how Year up connects underserved urban youth with unfilled, well-paying jobs.
Media
Nov 6, 2018
Memphis Nonprofit Helps Foster Children Transition to Adulthood
WMC-TV reports on the expanding impact of the “life-changing” YVLifeSet program.
Media
Oct 31, 2018
America’s Other Family-Separation Crisis
The New Yorker reports how The Bail Project’s Robin Steinberg and a program supported by the Birth through Eight Strategy for Tulsa are helping incarcerated women and their children in Oklahoma.
Media
Oct 30, 2018
Blue Meridian, Big Bet Investor in Child Welfare Programs, Becomes a Nonprofit
The Chronicle of Social Change describes Blue Meridian Partners’ plans for growth and independence.
Media
Oct 29, 2018
Program to Help Foster Youth Aging Out Expands to Los Angeles, D.C., Illinois and Louisiana
The Chronicle of Social Change reports on the continuing growth of YVLifeSet.
Media
Oct 25, 2018
As a Foundation Winds Down, the Anti-Poverty Funder Collaborative It Launched Takes Flight
Inside Philanthropy reports on EMCF and Blue Meridian’s plans to expand efforts to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Updates
Oct 18, 2018
Our Next Chapter
Blue Meridian announces plans to become independent and embark on new growth “to deliver bigger and better capital flow” to social sector leaders solving problems trapping youth in poverty.
Media
Jul 19, 2018
The Biggest Game in Adoption Today
The Chronicle of Social Change reports on WWK’s “groundbreaking” plan to find homes for 58,000 foster kids.
Media
Jul 12, 2018
Oklahoma Looking for Answers to Solve High Incarceration Rate
Oklahoma's incarceration rate is “the highest on the planet,” reports KOKH TV, and one answer is CEO’s jobs program for former inmates.