Our vision is to strengthen the workforce by serving as a bridge to economic opportunity for youth, individuals, and families in underserved communities that are critical for economic recovery during these unprecedented times.

Our diversity & racial equity mission statement confirms our commitment to fostering and maintaining a work environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven into our organizational DNA.

We recognize that structural racism, discrimination, systems of power, and other forms of oppression, give privilege and access to resources, lead to inequities, and have contributed to persistent disparities.

OBT is on an intentional journey to champion and operationalize the values of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in our organization and the communities we serve.

We strive to sustain a culture where all individuals can thrive and feel a sense of belonging, especially those whose voices and experiences have been historically marginalized.

We commit our work to breaking oppressive barriers and serving as a bridge to sustainable economic opportunities that will build and strengthen an equitable workforce.

We value individual differences, and the benefits diversity and inclusion bring to our organization. It enables us to grow effectively by developing respected representation in the communities OBT serves while giving back through our personal experiences and efforts, thereby adding immediate value.

We understand that diversity is not simply about people who represent the full spectrum of ethnicities, national origins, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, beliefs, religions and faith, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, and levels of physical ability; it also involves our ability to being open-minded and creating balance within OBT as an organization. Within our diversified workforce, we see our differences as assets, not liabilities, and intentionally prioritize methods to enhance our DEIA&B journey.

OBT realizes that diversity is essential for our organization, but we also know more is needed to hire people with the above-mentioned differences. Everyone needs to feel genuinely welcome, safe, and free to be themselves in the workplace. We are establishing a sense of belonging and inclusion to ensure that all employees, regardless of their background and experiences, are connected with equal opportunities and create a healthier, more successful future together.

RESPECT: Our diverse workforce brings perspectives, skills, and experience that we can learn from each other. We believe it is unacceptable for our spoken and written language and behavior to demean anyone’s physical characteristics, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, or sexual identity. We must take responsibility for our words and deeds and respect all people. We are sensitive toward the circumstances of our OBT participants and work collaboratively with each other to achieve their goals.

TEAMWORK: We willingly do what must be done to assist each other. We provide feedback about meeting each other’s needs and promptly respond to requests for assistance. We understand that Teamwork is the combined commitment to overcome obstacles. It supports. It’s encouragement. It’s working together to support our participants’ needs.

We earn credibility with our participants, partners, and each other by keeping our commitments, acting with honesty and integrity, and pursuing OBT’s goals solely through ethical and professional conduct.

If you are a supervisor, you have the added responsibility of creating an open and supportive environment where employees feel comfortable asking questions, raising concerns, and reporting misconduct.

Ethical behavior does not simply happen; it is the product of clear and direct communication of behavioral expectations, modeled from the top and demonstrated by example.

We emphasize the principles of accountability, confidence, and professionalism to prepare participants for the workforce while developing personal and professional skills.

INTEGRITY: Respecting our commitments, personally and professionally. OBT’s personal and professional integrity is a hallmark of our interaction with participants, staff, partners, donors, and others.

EXCELLENCE: Pushing ourselves and one another to be our very best. Our definition of excellence begins and ends with the high standards we set for providing services to OBT participants, staff, partners, donors, and others. OBT is built around specialized service offerings and programs designed to meet its participants’ complex and unique needs.

EMPOWERMENT: Positive change begins with us. We believe that empowerment is the sense that you control your life. It enables you to make positive decisions and to take action that will bring you closer to achieving your goals and ambitions. We instill empowerment in our participants, staff, and OBT community.

Approximately 30% of young adults in NYC are now disconnected from employment and education, making the total a staggering 291,500.

New York City’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed since the pandemic began to 14%. There is also significant underemployment in New York City – when workers work less than 20 hours per week. These serious problems are more evident and compounding in NYC’s communities of color – the very neighborhoods in which OBT has been rooted for decades.

Our programs offer a bridge to economic mobility and stability.

Since 1983, we have helped 15,000 New Yorkers gain the skills and educational credentials they need to succeed.

60% of program participants earn industry-recognized credentials while in an OBT program.

52% of program graduates engage in employment or matriculate in college after graduating from our programs

The average wage of an OBT graduate is $35,000 one year after working with us.

69% of graduates remain employed or in college after one year.

Over 94% of our participants are students of color with diverse academic experiences and skills

Thanks to the kind and generous support of our donors and sponsors, we’re able to provide no-cost programming to every OBT participant.

OBT was founded in December 1983 by Sister Mary Franciscus. Her passion and commitment to providing support and opportunities for Sunset Park’s young adults continues to inspire our work today.