ASP works with youth from all backgrounds, most with little exposure to the world outside their communities. There are tens of thousands of young people in Chicago in need of programs like DSY to find employment opportunities. One of the biggest challenges the ASP of Chicago faces is being able to respond to that need. They realized that by developing online platforms, they could increase their ability and capacity to recruit and cultivate corporate partners willing and able to bring high-school aged young people into their companies, and provide access for disadvantage youth to find these valuable opportunities.

The Thierer Family Foundation worked with ASP to build Connected Community, a platform to connect their partner companies with DSY alumni seeking employment. Connected Community can be accessed by companies to build their diverse pipeline of candidates, and by young people, alumni and business professionals looking for work. Companies can post any opportunities on the platform, including job postings, internship opportunities, career fairs and networking events. Connected Community is an innovative platform that reaches young people where they are—on their phones.

Connected Community brings together DSY graduates and partner organizations as a way for young people to cultivate their careers and companies to develop a diverse environment. This Afterschool Development program is one of the best ways to bring young people growing up in poor communities into the mainstream and spark their desire to learn and grow. They can connect to opportunities and the business community, and as a result have experiences that are very far from their daily environments. Using technology platforms to make these connections between poor youth and accomplished adults is at the heart of everything the All Stars does.