The Organization: Root’s mission is to provide youth, ages 16 to 26, with a pathway to employment and financial independence. Through developing life and work readiness skills, youth leave Root prepared for success in the workplace. Root’s long-term vision is to maximize youth opportunity through meaningful, skill-oriented employment; accompanying support services and coaching; and progress toward a living wage. Since 2017, Root has worked to expand employment and economic opportunities for young adults with barriers to success in Essex County, Massachusetts.  Through an emphasis on food service training and targeted life-skills development, Root has built a Culinary Job Training Program, award-winning youth employment enterprises (Root Café, Catering by Root