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Empowering high school youth from underserved communities to build social connections that drive economic mobility.

Who we are

Our Founders: The Story Behind Youth.Work.Connect.

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Stephen and Maria Blewitt bring a lifetime of experience and passion to Youth.Work.Connect.

Both grew up in working-class immigrant families, valuing education and understanding the challenges of building careers without strong networks. Stephen’s career in private asset management and Maria’s journey from biology to education have taught them the power of connections and mentorship.

Their mission with Youth.Work.Connect. is simple: help underserved high school students build the networks and social capital they need to succeed.

By partnering with organizations, they’re committed to giving young people the tools and support that can make all the difference.

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Who we are

Meet the Founders & Members of Youth.Work.Connect.

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Maria Blewitt

Owner / Founder

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Stephen Blewitt

Owner / Founder

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Antoinette Harris Daye

Executive Director

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Empowering youth through connection and education.

Our Vision

To create a future where every high school student from underserved communities has the social capital and support needed to achieve economic mobility and success.

Our Mission

“Youth.Work.Connect. exists to help high school youth from underserved communities build social capital to promote economic mobility. We look to accomplish this by providing training, resources, and mentoring to high school students and their counselors, teachers, employers, and youth agencies. ”

Who We Work With

Join Forces to Empower the Next Generation

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Youth.Work.Connect. seeks partnerships with companies, civic organizations, school districts, and youth agencies to empower underserved high school students.

We collaborate with businesses and civic organizations that offer jobs and internships to students to equip them with essential networking skills for career success.

We also partner with school districts and youth agencies to integrate our curriculum into existing programs. Together, we provide educators and community leaders with the tools they need to guide students toward economic mobility and brighter futures.

Stephen & Maria Blewitt

Founders

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About Maria

Born to Italian immigrants in Cicero, Illinois, I was the first in my extended family to attend college. After earning a degree in Biology from the University of Chicago, I struggled to find work until networking opened doors in environmental regulation. This pivotal experience underscored the importance of connections, guiding my career from environmental science to teaching, where I eventually became a department chair. With a Masters in Biology and an Ed.D. in science education, I now co-lead Youth.Work.Connect., a mission based organization dedicated to empowering high school students and their adult allies. Our mission emphasizes the importance of education and the critical role of networking in achieving career success and social mobility.

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About Stephen

Born to working-class Irish immigrants in Queens, NY, I learned the importance of education and hard work. Despite receiving an outstanding education at Regis High School, a prestigious Jesuit school in Manhattan, I didn’t initially focus on career planning or networking. I continued my education at the University of Chicago earning a degree in Economics and paying my way through college with on-campus and summer jobs. After college, I was fortunate to get a job as a computer programmer. Over time, I became more intentional about building relationships and earned an M.B.A., leading to a successful career in private asset management. I now co-lead Youth.Work.Connect., a mission based organization dedicated to empowering high school students and their adult allies. Our mission emphasizes the importance of education and the critical role of networking in achieving career success and social mobility.

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Antoinette Harris Daye

Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, I learned early the value of faith, family, education, and community.

Those roots shaped the passion I carry today for helping young people discover pathways that lead to brighter futures. My own journey—from corporate settings to classrooms and community leadership—has taught me that talent is universal, but opportunities and networks often are not

Throughout my career in education and workforce development, I have dedicated myself to building bridges: between schools and employers, between students and mentors, and between communities and the resources they need to grow. I’ve worked across Durham Public Schools as a career development coordinator, business teacher, and advocate—roles that allowed me to partner with businesses, civic organizations, military leaders, and global learning programs.

Over the years, I became intentional about expanding these partnerships and creating high-impact experiences that help students explore careers,develop skills, and build meaningful relationships.

Today, as Executive Director of Youth.Work.Connect., I lead a mission-driven organization dedicated to empowering high school students and their adult allies. Our work centers on preparing students to navigate the modern work force by strengthening their social capital, enhancing career readiness, and connecting them with real-world experiences—job shadowing, apprenticeships, internships, leadership development, and global exposure.

My commitment is simple:

Every student—no matter their background—deserves access to the tools, networks, and opportunities that enable them to succeed.

Through Youth.Work.Connect., I am honored to bring together educators, employers, families, and community leaders to help young people thrive, discover their purpose, and step confidently into their future