Youth Motivation Task Force (YMTF)

A Retrospective

The Youth Motivation task Force concept originated in a program called Plans for Progress, which was developed in 1961 to work with President Kennedy’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity.  It was a voluntary effort by the leaders of American business and industry to aggressively promote and implement equal employment opportunity.

A two-year national communications campaign, coordinated by the Advertising Council, using radio and television, was initiated.  The objective of this campaign was to inform minority youth concerning career opportunities in business and industry.

In addition, members of minority groups, who were also executives of Plans for Progress companies, conducted a nationwide program of visits to colleges, senior high schools, and junior high schools with large minority enrollments.  The objective of this program was to motivate more young people toward business and industry careers.

In 1965, it was determined that a more concentrated effort was necessary.  Vice President Hubert Humphrey asked 85 prominent black businessmen to personally visit predominantly black colleges.  Out of this desire for a more consistent and concentrated effort, the concept of Y.M.T.F. began.

YOUTH MOTIVATION TASK FORCE

Mission and Objective

The Youth Motivation Task Force (YMTF) program, formerly sponsored by the National Alliance of Business, is designed to bring to predominantly minority colleges and universities, informed, dedicated, and successful professionals from every walk of life.   Their aim is to explain career opportunities in business and industry, to discuss how the world of work operates, and to share their personal career experiences.  These professionals provide students with the direction and insight necessary in making realistic career decisions.

The program concept is quite simple, but effective.  More than 5 million students have become aware of the variety of careers available to them in the private and public sector through this program.

The consultants’ primary focus of this annual event is classroom visitations, networking, and establishing mentoring relationships with students.